Whether you are a teacher, a parent or a caregiver, dealing with a disruptive child can be challenging. Children act out for various reasons. Some are seeking attention; some are trying to gain control; others are seeking revenge for past disciplinary actions against them. When dealing with a troublesome child, set firm rules and uphold them. If the child continues to disrupt the class or group or becomes dangerous to himself or others, private therapy is in order.
Model Play
Lead the disruptive child to a corner of the room and provide her with dolls or stuffed animals. Using the toys, act out the behavior the child was exhibiting. She will see how silly or inappropriate it was. Give her the dolls and use them to model the appropriate way to behave. Let her create her own ideas as to the appropriate behavior for the situation. Explain to her that this play applies to real life and this is the behavior you expect.
List Problems
Work with the child to create a list of problems that may be frustrating to him or causing him stress. Writing this list gives the child an activity to distract him from the disruptive behavior he was exhibiting. It also forces him to express problems that may be causing the behavior. Once you know the source of any issues, you can work with him to solve them. A list of stresses and frustrations also gives a teacher or caregiver a starting point for a discussion regarding problematic behavior with the child's parents.
Art Projects
When a child is causing disruptive behavior, supply her with crayons and paper. Ask her to draw a picture that illustrates her feelings. This activity distracts her from the disruptive behavior and gives her an outlet for her feelings. Assign emotions to some of the colors. Red, for example, signifies anger; green represents happiness. She can use colors to express emotions that are causing inappropriate behavior.
Remove the Child
When a child is disrupting a group of students, remove him from the room. Move his chair to the hallway or move him to another classroom. Give him his regular assignments if it is a classroom situation or give him coloring books, activity books or puzzles to work on if it is not an academic environment. Allow him to work quietly while he regains control of his behavior. It may only take a few minutes before he can return to the group or it may take longer. Make sure you check on the child periodically.
References
- University of Oregon: University Counseling and Testing Center: Strategins to Discourage Disruptive Behavior
- Child Care Plus; Helping a Child Get Back On Track; 1999
- Purdue University: Teaching Academy: Dealing With Disruptive Behavior
- Therapy Tools: A Treatment Planning Approach For Negative Seeking Behaviors
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