Handle With Care
Early Childhood
Practical, compassionate and safe strategies for young children
HWC Trained Practitioners
Supporting our Partners
Handle With Care - Preschool & Early Childhood Program (Ages 3 – 8)
Early childhood professionals including teachers, healthcare providers, social workers, parents and caregivers often say that managing challenging behaviors is one of the hardest parts of their jobs, and one for which they feel least prepared. For decades, HWC has trained staff and parents working and caring for children as young as three. Our small child program can be taught as part of the larger HWC Training Program or as a “standalone” course specifically designed for someone working with children ages 3-8.
Key Principles for Understanding Young Children’s Behavior
Managing challenging behaviors in young children requires a trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate approach that prioritizes safety, trust, and emotional regulation. When children exhibit behaviors like hitting, biting, property destruction, or intense emotional outbursts, they are often testing boundaries—not out of defiance, but to seek reassurance that the adults around them are in control and can keep them safe. Many of the same principles that define good parenting such as consistency, reassurance, and emotional regulation are also key intervention strategies. Our goal is to provide children with the reassurance that they are safe, the environment is secure, and the adults caring for them can be trusted to guide them through difficult moments.
"As a child therapist, it's important to me that we remain trauma informed in our approach and continue to teach our staff how to be sensitive to the child in all things, even restrictive interventions and HWC allows us to do so."
Ashley - Community, Outpatient, Residential & Crisis
When Verbal Intervention Is Not Enough
HWC offers a developmentally appropriate 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.”
A Safer Approach
Our Modified PRT for Smaller Children™ is designed to:
- Safely contain a child
- Reduce struggle and fear
- Align with trauma-informed principles by making the child feel safe rather than overwhelmed
- For larger children in the 3-8 age range, staff can transition seamlessly from the Modified PRT for smaller children to our full PRT® method, ensuring the safest and most appropriate level of intervention
The Problem with the Basket Hold
- Risk of injury - Can place stress on a child’s shoulders, elbows, and wrists, especially if they struggle
- Loss of control - The hold is difficult to maintain
- Fatal Malfunction Mode - In worst-case scenarios, improper application can lead to dangerous outcomes
Contact us to learn how HWC can create a safer environment
Download an Education or Early Childhood Brochure
Printable and emailable PDFs covering how Handle With Care supports its partners
Handle With Care Training Options
We are extremely flexible and work with all our partners to find a training solution that works for you.
Seminars
You come to one of our training Seminars- Training events in most States
- Train-the-Trainer Program
- Cost effective for smaller teams
- No additional cost for materials
Onsite Training
We go to your location- Cost-effective for larger teams
- Train-the-Trainer Program
- Flexible, convenient scheduling
- No additional cost for materials