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A to Z Challenging Behaviour Series
A FOR ARGUMENTATIVE: POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT
DEFINING ARGUMENTATIVE BEHAVIOUR When there is a disagreement, argumentation is the dialogic process in which two or more people engage in a debate of opposing claims (Kuhn & Udell, 2007). This exchange allows one to state their needs, concerns and views which...
A FOR ATTENTION-SEEKING: POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT
ATTENTION-SEEKING AS PART OF NORMAL DEVELOPMENT Attention is a basic human need. Children of all ages seek out attention by saying or doing something that results in one or more adults and/or children providing some form of interaction. For example, a baby cries to...
B FOR BITING: POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT
DEFINING BITING BEHAVIOUR Biting is a behaviour that involves the use of the teeth or jaw to seize, tear or chew into an object, the self, or another person. Biting can cause injuries that range in severity from a bitemark that barely breaks the skin to broken skin...
C FOR CHEATING: POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT
DEFINING CHEATING BEHAVIOUR Cheating is any form of behaviour the function of which is to deliberately break a rule by misleading, deceiving, or acting dishonestly to gain an advantage (Green, 2004). CHEATING BEHAVIOUR AS PART OF NORMAL DEVELOPMENT Cheating frequently...
D FOR DEFIANT: POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT
DEFINING DEFIANT BEHAVIOUR Defiant behaviour is defined as the act of refusing to comply with a rule, direction or request made by someone in authority (e.g. parent, educator, support staff or other adult) by challenging, opposing or resisting behaving or conforming...
E FOR EXCESSIVE REASSURANCE SEEKING: POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT
DEFINING REASSURANCE SEEKING BEHAVIOUR Reassurance seeking is defined as any explicit, implicit, verbal, or nonverbal behaviour where one seeks assurance from another individual, even if it has already been provided (Gillett & Mazza, 2018). REASSURANCE SEEKING...
E FOR EXCESSIVE TECHNOLOGY USE: POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT
DEFINING EXCESSIVE TECHNOLOGY USE The definition of ‘excessive technology use’ is not just based on the absolute quantity of exposure; instead, it is based on how it impacts different functions (Howard-Jones, 2011). For example, a child who has to complete an...
F FOR FLOPPING: POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT
DEFINING FLOPPING BEHAVIOUR Flopping behaviour is defined as the sudden and abrupt action of deliberately going down. Flopping could look like suddenly sitting or falling on one’s knees or lying down on a surface and refusing to move. FLOPPING BEHAVIOUR AS PART OF...
H FOR HITTING: POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR SUPPORT
DEFINING HITTING BEHAVIOUR Hitting is the act of using the hand or arm with an open or closed fist to contact one’s own body or another person. Hitting can vary in terms of the force that is used such that the contact makes a sound or causes injury that can range in...
Positive Behaviour Support Series
Emotional Regulation Series
How to Talk to Your Child about COVID-19: 7 Helpful Tips
With news about COVID-19 dominating the media and our daily lives changing significantly and rapidly to combat the pandemic, it’s no surprise that many children are feeling uncertain, anxious or frightened. Now, more than ever, we need to make sure that we’re there...
How to Support Your Child through COVID-19: 10 Helpful Tips
With news about COVID-19 dominating the media and our daily lives changing significantly and rapidly to combat the pandemic, it’s no surprise that many children are feeling uncertain, anxious or frightened. Now, more than ever, we need to make sure that we’re there...
7 Ways to Create Opportunities for Choice Making
As adults, we constantly make choices of various size and significance throughout each day. The ability to make choices impacts our quality of life, and allows us to be independent and make sure our voice is heard. We begin learning how to make choices from an early...
How do I help my child who is compulsively lying?
Although lying isn’t something we want our kids to do, it is a normal part of development. All children lie at different times, and it is, in fact, a sign that children are learning to understand how others think and feel. However, lying should be a concern when it...
Hooked on Rewards
Students who are motivated show involvement in learning, a positive emotional tone, and persevere in the face of challenge. Unmotivated students, however, can exhibit internalised behaviours such as absenteeism or classroom passivity, reluctance to participate and...
Beyond Winning and Losing: Teaching Students to be Good Sports
Beyond Winning and Losing: Teaching Students to be Good SportsNobody wins all the time. We all regularly have experiences or engage in activities that have some level of competitiveness, whether it’s playing sports, participating in contests, or even things like...
Strategies for Students Who Struggle With Unstructured Times
Strategies for Students Who Struggle With Unstructured TimesUnstructured times can be a struggle for students with Anxiety, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The nature of these periods of time can prompt some students...
Cyberbullying Series
Cyberbullying: Empowering Students to be Cyber Smart and Cyber Safe
Bullying is a well-known, age-old societal problem, but our adoption of technology has given rise to new ways of causing harm: cyberbullying. Educating and empowering our students to be cyber smart and cyber safe and deal with painful emotions is vital for keeping...