Preventing and Responding to Challenging Behavior

Addressing challenging behavior is a daily concern for early childhood educators. It’s estimated that roughly 10 to 14 percent of children from birth to 5 years old demonstrate serious behavioral concerns, resulting in significant impacts to their learning and social interactions.

Children engage in challenging behavior for many different reasons; preventing and responding to that behavior begins with understanding why it occurs. This book curates and organizes articles from Young Children and Teaching Young Children that

• Help teachers build trust and connections with children


• Highlight evidence-based positive behavior intervention and support strategies


• Aim to prevent suspension, expulsion, and other punitive discipline


• Support teachers and families in implementing effective teaching strategies for social and emotional skills children can use instead of challenging behavior


• Show how to adapt practices to consider the cultures and contexts of children 

Each article in this collection is accompanied by questions to prompt deeper thinking on the content. With this resource, fully see and hear children as you honor and support their well-being, as well as your own.