Understanding Behaviour In Early Years Settings

Everything we learn, every way we influence others and every relationship we form hangs around a complex interplay of behaviours, feelings and thoughts. This practical book explores the factors that influence children’s behaviour in the early years, enabling practitioners, parents and carers to develop a better understanding and become more intuitive and confident in supporting their development and learning in the first five years. Full of insights and strategies for supporting children when their behaviour gets in the way of learning and wellbeing, or when it is simply ‘different’ in some way, Understanding Behaviour in Early Years Settings demonstrates how practitioners can help children to feel secure, learn and explore while gaining an understanding of how to behave socially and appropriately towards others. Areas covered include building firm foundations and developing attachments; personal, social and emotional development; the language of feelings and behaviour; observing ‘problem’ behaviours and planning interventions; and supporting disability and special educational needs. Including case studies and thinking points in each chapter, this invaluable guide will help early years practitioners, teachers and students to develop their own knowledge, confidence and understanding when working with challenging behaviours.

Understanding Behaviour in the Early Years provides information, practical suggestions and ideas that enable practitioners to take a positive approach to young children's learning about behaviour. Linked directly to the revised EYFS, this title includes practical suggestions based on sound theory and effective practice. This guide highlights the importance of working in partnership with parents to understand and support children's behavioural learning and aims to increase practitioners' confidence in supporting children's learning about behaviour. Includes chapters on: early intervention in the context of supporting behavioural learning, theoretical perspectives on behavioural learning, thinking about social learning, thinking about emotional learning, thinking about behavioural learning and using observation and analysis to develop effective strategies.

In this accessible and thought-provoking text, the author examines the behaviour of babies and young children in a developmental context, and takes into account the shifts and changes over time as young children grow and mature. Understanding Behaviour and Development in Early Childhood reveals, for example, how behaviour perceived as ‘difficult’ in a young child may be the manifestation of a response to emotional, sensory and cognitive experiences. Throughout the book, readers will find a strong emphasis on emotional well-being and the need to place our understanding of behaviour within a developmental time frame. Based on wide ranging professional experience the topics examined and discussed in this insightful book include: what we understand by ‘behaviour’ how the brain and senses work and mature during early childhood behaviour as a reflection of the child’s internal state what emotions are and how we learn what feelings mean to us as individuals how emotions affect our ability to learn how we develop a sense of self. The book provides suggestions for how adults may think about and respond to changes in children’s behaviour, and how we may support children in learning how to manage their own behaviour as they grow older and encounter wider and more complex situations. Understanding the meaning of behaviour is a constant challenge for anyone working with children. This developmental approach promotes a helpful reflective stance for practitioners and students working in early childhood education and care.

Sharing insights of various theoretical perspectives to help understand the complex root causes of children’s behaviour, Supporting Positive Behaviour in Early Childhood Settings and Primary Schools highlights key responses that can encourage positive mental health, resilience and behaviour. Drawing on a range of theoretical frameworks, this book: Translates theoretical insights into adaptable and practical responses Considers children's strengths and needs with regards to resilience and mental health Includes case studies, tasks and questions for reflection Identifies innovative practical strategies for supporting positive behaviour in educational settings Combining theoretical perspectives on supporting positive behaviour, Supporting Positive Behaviour in Early Childhood Settings and Primary Schools is user-friendly and conceptually unified. It gives early childhood and primary students and teachers a clear understanding of what to do to facilitate positive behaviour and why to do it, encouraging true professionalism in education, and ensuring children learn and develop to their highest potential.

This book critically discusses the issues associated with behavior problems in the early years, and their implications for practice.

Behaving inappropriately -- Basic physical needs: Food and drink -- Regular sleep routines -- Boredom -- Planning the environment -- Room management -- Planning play spaces -- Planning activities -- Routines -- Staying safe -- Preparing for transitions -- Creating the right backdrop for behavioural development -- Changing the environment to shape the behaviour -- A positive behaviour policy -- Reference -- Chapter 6: When behaviour needs to change: Observations and planning interventions -- 'Problem' behaviour -- Individual behaviour plans -- Observation and assessment -- Behaviour management -- Staying positive -- Using rewards effectively -- Planning changes -- Changing the setting and trigger -- Changing the action -- Changing the responses -- A consultative approach -- Children with additional support needs -- Reference -- Chapter 7: Children who behave 'differently': Special educational needs and disability -- Do we need to label? -- Special educational needs -- Working with children who have autistic spectrum difficulties -- Supporting young children with ASD -- Children with attention deficit disorders -- What you might observe -- Useful strategies for children with attention difficulties -- References -- Chapter 8: Supporting parents, carers and each other -- When behaviour becomes stressful -- Seeing challenges differently -- Stress management -- Dealing with tantrums -- Strategies for managing your own stress -- Talking with parents or carers about behaviour -- Understanding where parents and carers might be coming from -- Useful approaches -- Home-setting liaison -- Home programmes -- Support services -- References -- Books to encourage talking and listening around feelings -- Further information -- Index

Many Early Years settings are taking in children for longer periods and at a younger age. However, their day-to-day practice has not necessarily changed and instead leads to the 'management' of behaviour, rather than investigating why the behaviour is taking place. Through a combination of practice, theory and reflection, leading Early Years education consultant Penny Tassoni explores children's behaviour from a child-centred point of view. In doing so, she shows how, over time, children learn to be with others and the strategies that adults can use to positively support this development. Understanding Children's Behaviour is a practical handbook that is accessible and adaptable for Early Years practitioners looking to support children's behaviour by focusing on their personal and social skills. It includes a useful A-Z problem-solving section about dealing with unwanted behaviours for analysis and to guide practice.

First published in 2005. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.