Five Ways to Help Children with Challenging Behaviours
Parenting children with challenging behaviours isn't always easy, but there are simple and compassionate strategies that can help. In my two decades of supporting families as a pediatric occupational therapist, I have seen that there are underlying reasons behind every child's behaviour, and understanding these reasons empowers us to offer more effective support.
All Behaviours Have a Reason
Every behaviour serves a purpose and fulfils a specific need. Challenging behaviours often stem from the child's attempt to find comfort and safety within themselves, although they might not even be aware of the exact reasons behind their actions.
When children exhibit challenging behaviours, they are typically far from calm and connected but closer to a 'fight' or 'flight' response mode. In this state, they cannot engage in higher-level thinking and reasoning as they focus on restoring a sense of safety in their minds, bodies, and emotions. Therefore, caregivers need to play the role of detectives, seeking to discover the catalysts behind their behaviour.
Try Not to Take it Personally
When children behave in ways that we find challenging, it's natural to take it personally. We might assume they're being manipulative or intentionally misbehaving. Such judgments can influence our perception of the situation and our reactions. Recognizing this enables us to shift from a subjective to an objective perspective.
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What is the Objective Behaviour"
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