Have you noticed some children will increase their behaviors in what seems to be an effort to gain your attention? Have you ever had a child exhibit a behavior that just seems so bizarre to you and you were at a loss for how to respond?

Children with extreme behaviors and mental illness present some of the most challenging moments in the classroom. Some of these behaviors can be alarming to the adults who care for them. Seeing all behavior as a form of communication creates opportunity for acceptance of where the child is, connection, and teaching new skills.

Listen in as Kim Jackson, Conscious Discipline Master Instructor and demonstration teacher in North Carolina, shares strategies for working with children during extreme behaviors.

ESSENTIAL TAKEAWAYS

• Seeing all behavior as communication enables adults to create teaching moments, even with them most challenging children.

• Adults managing their own emotional states in times of conflict is essential.

• Respecting where children are in the moment creates opportunity to connect and teaches others watching acceptance.

STEPS FOR TOMORROW

• Know how to access your own composure and calm yourself in the moments that seem most heated and challenging.

• See all behavior, no matter what it is, as a call for help and a missing skill.

• Use the QTIP method – Quit Taking It Personally

• Repeatedly teach the skill that is missing in the moment and through social play

IMPORTANT LINKS

www.ConsciousDiscipline.com

Mental health specialists decrease power struggles, holds and conflict with Conscious Discipline - https://consciousdiscipline.com/videos/mental-health-specialists-decrease-power-struggles-holds-and-conflict-with-conscious-discipline/

Connecting Parents to the School Family: https://consciousdiscipline.com/videos/how-can-you-connect-parents-into-your-school-family-a-preschool-teacher-shows-the-way/

PRODUCTS

• Conscious Discipline: Building Resilient Classrooms

SHOW OUTLINE

:22 What is Conscious Discipline

1:30 Introduction of today’s topic – young children and mental illness

3:12 Causes of mental illness

3:45 Introduction of guest Kim Jackson

6:15 Types of mental illness Kim has seen in her classroom

9:35 Story of what happened when the teacher was injured by a student

11:43 Approaching children with big behaviors

14:15 All behavior is some form of communication – a story of seeing it differently

18:47 Ways children call for help

20:03 Steps for helping and reaching challenging children

21:10 Story of child who has eaten poop

23:44 Story of responding to child with multiple personalities

26:28 Modeling acceptance for other students who witness challenging moments

27:46 Reaching the family of children with mental illness

31:40 Role play parent – teacher communication regarding “Did my child have a good day?”

34:40 Steps for tomorrow

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

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On behalf of our Conscious Discipline family, we wish you well.

ConsciousDiscipline.com