It's Not About Being... 'Bad'

'Challenging kids are challenging because they are lacking the skills to not be challenging' Ross W.Greene (2016).

The idea that challenging behaviour is the result of lacking skills (lagging skills) questions challenging behaviour resulting in being labelled as attention seeking or defiant. If we are open minded and reflect on this alternative view we can begin to talk about how to help those children in our care who exhibit challenging behaviour and remove the labels and stigma that lead to them becoming demotivated and disengaged.

Consider the following...

If children find learning to read challenging, we help them to acquire the specific skills and strategies to be successful at reading.

Similarly, for children who find maths challenging. We support them in their understanding of strategies, and the development of skills in mathematical thinking and number manipulation, which are necessary for success in maths.

Why then are countless opportunities for learning missed when it comes to challenges related to behaviour?

I believe that in order to support children who exhibit challenging behaviour we need to help them acquire the skills that they are lacking. We can being this process through the modelling of expected behaviour and through mentoring them in how they can achieve it. Making the effort to understand these children and approaching their difficulty by believing that they are fundamentally good can be our starting point.

Some may think that I have too sympathetic approach to this...

However, I believe there is a huge misunderstanding of what I believe to be my empathetic approach. When empathy is seen to be sympathy it can become demonised in the classroom and regarded as creating situations where the child exhibiting challenging behaviour often 'wins' and the adult often 'gives in' to resume some calm with students. Empathy, on the other hand is an opportunity to value that the child has challenges but then offers opportunities to reflect on those challenges and affect change.

What are your experiences with this?.... Share them