Children are not born knowing how to be well behaved, so some help and guidance from parents and caregivers is needed. At the same time, it’s not always an easy job. To help support parents and caregivers in this, we held an information session on June 10th to talk about some behaviour strategies.

Why do children misbehave?

Kids use their behavior to show their feelings and thoughts, often when they have a hard time finding words for them. Responding appropriately requires understanding the underlying cause. Here are a few examples:

1. Feeling left out / craving attention
2. Copying behaviour seen by others / from a show
3. Testing limits
4. Lacking problem-solving skills
5. Wanting independence
6. Having unmet needs (tired, hungry, etc)

How do I prevent misbehaviour?

One great place to start, is to work on preventing misbehaviour in the first place. Here are some tips for preventing misbehaviour in children:

1. Anticipate a problem before it happens (carry snacks and feed them before they act out, set reasonable limits for play before they begin)
2. Set up your home and play areas so children are free to play comfortably and safely for their age.
3. Be clear about what you want and expect from children.
4. Make a few important rules that you can enforce.
5. State them in advance.
6. Listen to your child. Look for signs that show your children’s mood. Recognize feelings.
7. Repeat the limits you set. Help children remember with reminders such as notes and pictures. Point out choices.
8. Be a good example.
9. Be consistent.

And remember, the staff of Creating Together are here to help – if you’d like some support in this, please come to a staff member and we’d be happy to help you navigate your child’s misbehaviour, and support you with some strategies. You are not alone!