Can we set aside the topic of challenging behavior today and talk instead about something that you likely find just as challenging?

Not. Having. Enough. Time.

Have you experienced that in the last week, day, or hour?

When you’re looking for information on how to get kids to follow directions…how to support children who’ve experienced trauma…how to make sure children in your class see themselves in your picture books…what are your go-to resources?

Here are three of mine…

Back in the day we spent a lot of time in early childhood classrooms doing the following:

• Songs with actions that you sing and tell children to copy the movements on

• Recorded music like We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, Animal Action or anything that prompts children to move or pretend in various ways

• Call and repeat songs and chants

• Playing games like Red Light, Green Light; Simon Sez; Duck, Duck Goose or my personal favorite, Doggie Doggie Where’s Your Bone?

Yesterday I spoke with a Director considering “Group Access” to the Transform Challenging Behavior Online Conference for a Head Start Staff of 60 and she told me that she thought teachers' biggest struggle with behavior was getting children to follow directions!

In my early childhood special education training I learned to give children words.

At the center I was working at during this time we typically told children to “use their words”.

In theory “use your words” is great.

But what if the child doesn’t know what words to use?

When it comes to preventing and de-escalating challenging behavior in early childhood classrooms, meeting a child where they’re at can go a long, long way.

One of the things we spoke about at the recent TCB free live training series was the importance of having a PLAN.

Most teachers are required to have a lesson plan.

Even in emergent, project-based, or play-based classrooms it may be more of a scaffolding or flow of the day but there still is a plan for how elements of the day will go.

Let me know below on a scale of 1-10 how equipped with a PLAN for preventing challenging behavior are you?

When I was 22 I was living in Minneapolis. Fresh out of college and underemployed. I joined a free local support group at a women’s center and met my friend Andrea. A few weeks later Andrea said to me, “You said you liked kids, right? I’m looking for a part time aide in my Three’s Classroom…” ..and next thing I knew I was an early childhood educator!

How are you holding up?

It seems like everywhere I turn lately I see an early childhood teacher, family child care provider, instructional aide, manager, coach, director, administrator saying…

I’m beyond exhausted.

I went from a relationship with challenging behavior that was filled with intimidation and humiliation to one of confidence, meaning, and even joy.

What caused this shift?