Re: Challenging 5 year old

From: Mary Louise Hemmeter
Email: ml.hemmeter@vanderbilt.edu
Date: May 23, 2006

Comments

Hi Judy:

It sounds like this is a tough situation for you and your staff. The first thing you need to do is to figure out why he is engaging in these behaviors. For example, does engage in problem behavior when he doesn't want to do something or when he does want to do something? Does he engage in these behaviors when he can't play with something he wants to play with? Given your limited time with him, I would encourage you to figure out why he is engaging in the behavior and avoid getting in a power struggle with him. You will not win a power struggle. If he is crying because he does not want to do something, is it a possibility to allow him to do something else? If so, you could try to give him a choice of things he can do. Or if you are willing to let him out of an activity, you could prompt him to ask for a break for a short period of time.

I can't be much more helpful without knowing more about the context in which he engages in problem behavior. Feel free to send me more details and I will try to provide more specific suggestions.

Hang in there!!!

Mary Louise