Managing Challenging Early Childhood Behaviors (Approximate Ages 3 – 8).
Early childhood professionals i.e. teachers, healthcare, social workers, parents and caregivers often identify managing challenging behaviors as one of the most difficult aspects of their jobs, and one for which they feel least prepared. For decades, HWC has been training staff and parents serving children as young as three. Our small child program is taught as part of the larger HWC program and as a “standalone” program specifically designed for someone working with children in the 3-8 age group.
Key Principles in Managing Young Children’s Behavior. One of the core principles when managing young children is that interventions considered good parenting are often successful management strategies. Young children are still developing emotionally and socially, so it’s crucial to balance children’s emotional, physical, and behavioral needs while maintaining a safe and supportive environment.
Why Do Children Engage in Challenging Behaviors. Children engaging in challenging behaviors—such as causing harm to themselves or others, damaging property, or disrupting the environment—are often seeking reassurance that the adults around them are in control and trustworthy. These children frequently test boundaries to ensure that adults can manage the challenges their behavior presents. Our goal is to reassure the child that they are safe, they can trust the adults around them to keep them safe and that the environment is under control.
When Verbal Intervention Is Not Enough. While verbal intervention can often de-escalate challenging behaviors, it’s not always sufficient. In such cases, HWC offers a physical intervention program designed specifically for young children. At the core of this program is our proprietary Modified PRT for Smaller Children™, a child holding method developed to replace the ‘basket hold,’ while avoiding its inherent problems, such as its “fatal malfunction” mode and stress often placed on the child’s shoulders, elbows and wrists when the arms are pulled too tightly as the child struggles.
Modified PRT for Smaller Children™. The Modified PRT for Smaller Children is an effective and an appropriate holding method for children.
Larger Small Children. In instances where the young child is a little larger and the small child hold is not sufficient, staff can transition from the Modified PRT for Smaller Children to our the PRT®.
Supplementing Child-Centric Training. The purpose of HWC’s small child training is to supplement, not replace other child-centric approaches. While there are many reasons why children may exhibit challenging behaviors, it’s essential for teachers and staff to be prepared to manage these behaviors effectively to ensure the emotional safety of all children and staff in their care. Children’s behavior often serves as a way to test boundaries. Our role is to help children understand where those boundaries are and to ensure they are kept safe in the process.
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