Behavior management strategies encourage positive behavior and discourage negative behavior. Parents implement these strategies when they teach their children proper table manners. Teachers create a classroom of respectful children when they use strategies that include complimenting their students for listening quietly. Coaches employ behavior management strategies when they add a lap around the park because players did not follow directions.
Instructional
Children need to learn how to act, speak, interact and contribute. Behavior management strategies include teaching them the correct way to accomplish a task or project. Before telling a child to set the table, show him that the fork goes on the left, the knife and spoon on the right, and the napkin goes under the fork. Learning the correct way to do things provides children with the foundation to make positive choices.
Environmental
Behavior management strategies include providing the appropriate tools and proper environment to help children be successful. For children that struggle to remember their daily schedule, provide a calendar with words or pictures to help promote their success. A noisy room is a challenge for children learning to speak quietly. Giving a child a book with scribbles throughout discredits any teaching about not writing in books. Consider how to help and support children in ways that encourage positive behavior and good choices.
Reward the Right
Rewards encourage continued behavioral success. Children earning coupons or receiving compliments for making the right choices feel motivated to continue making those choices. The New York University Child Study Center reminds parents to, "Develop a radar system to pick up the good behavior rather than just the bad. Catch children when they are sharing, helping other children, dealing well with frustration and compliment them immediately."
Redirect
Behavior management strategies should include opportunities for redirection before an action escalates into a poor choice or inappropriate action. Redirection includes asking questions such as, "Do you need help to calm yourself down, or are you feeling strong enough to do it on your own?" or "Are you getting ready to do that according to our family rules or to do it your way?" Redirection also includes any suggestion or reminder about how to respond to rules, schedules, behaviors and disappointments.
Consequence the Wrong
If wrong choices and poor behaviors do develop, negative consequences discourage the behavior, action or choice in the future. Negative consequences must be age appropriate, and they should connect to the bad behavior. For mistreating a pet, for example, a child might lose pet privileges for a certain amount of time. The Center for Child Welfare suggests consequences for inappropriate behaviors: extra chores, loss of privileges, early bedtime, restriction from recreational activities and increased adult supervision.
