Support Positive Behaviour

CU1510.4 Be able to support children and young people’s positive behaviour

1. Explain how a work setting can encourage children young people’s positive behaviour:

A range of techniques can be used by settings to promote positive behaviour.

Develop positive relationships:
When there is a good relationship between adults and children, children receive lots of pleasant attention when they are behaving positively. This encourages them to repeat the same behaviour.
In the same way, if a child is behaving in a way that receives negative feedback, they are generally keen to alter their behaviour so they can receive positive attention again.

Listening to children and valuing their opinion:
Doing this demonstrates that you respect the children in your care. By asking children what they want to do and how they feel can help to avoid frustration building. This is key because inappropriate behaviour can be a result of frustration and anger.

Providing a stimulating and challenging environment:
When children attend settings that provide stimulating challenges within a challenging environment, behaviour is generally more positive overall.
Children are more likely to behave inappropriately when they are bored. But their behaviour can also be affected if they become over-excited in a hyped-up environment.
There should be a good range of activities to promote all areas of development. There should also be a good routine which allows times for being active along with restful pursuits.

Giving children choices:
This is a good way to promote children’s positive behaviour. When children can have a say in what they want to do, it encourages a positive frame of mind. It promotes positive behaviour and encourages responsibility.

Adult role modelling:
It is very important that children model positive behaviour, as children naturally learn from what is happening around them. Treating people with respect, not raising voices in anger, being polite, being kind and considerate, showing patience - this is the kind of behaviour children should see from adults.