Young Leaders Training Behaviours That Challenge Icebreaker – On a scale of guinea pig, how are you feeling today? ? What are behaviours that challenge? Any behaviour that someone displays that is a challenge for others to manage and/or that puts the young person or others at risk. Can you think of any examples you have seen or heard about, of behaviours that challenge? Can you think of a behaviour that one person may find ‘challenging’ but others may not? What might affect someone finding a behaviour challenging or not? Discussion Time Examples of Behaviours that Challenge • Hitting/ hurting others • Swearing /using discriminatory language • Name calling/ insulting others. • Damaging property • Ignoring instructions or breaking group rules • Distracting others • Hitting/ hurting themselves • Lying or cheating • Doing things to disgust or upset others. Remember All behaviour is trying to tell us something about what the person is feeling, thinking or needing. What do the group think might be examples of causes of behaviours that challenge? What do the group think might be helpful ways to approach behaviours that challenge? All Behaviour is Communication. Why might people behave in a way that challenges others? • There are lots of common possible reasons that young people may use behaviours that challenge. • Behaviours may be different for each individual. • Reasons can also change over time, depending on the age, development, environment and many other things. • Can you think of some possible reasons? Why might people behave in a way that challenges others? • To get attention from other people. • To avoid a situation or task that they find difficult or uncomfortable. • To get a reward like food or an activity they enjoy • To comfort or because it feels nice. To express how they are feeling inside. • To show they are feeling pain or are in distress. What factors might cause a young person to behave in a way that challenges? • Personal • Environment • Other People How can we approach the young person to help manage or change the behaviour? What things do we put in place at KYCC to help manage behaviours that challenge and encourage more positive behaviours? Can you think of any others from other places? Scenarios Choose a scenario and consider how you might support the young person to manage their behaviour. Sonny, aged 12 • comes to the youth session most weeks and is often wearing dirty clothes and turning up late, dropped off by his 14 year old brother. • getting into arguments with other young people for taking more than his share of the snacks provided and swearing or lashing out at anyone who tries to get him to put some back. • lives at home with his Mum, who has never been to the youth sessions, as well as his brother. • He has few friends at school and refuses to join in the introductions at the beginning of each session. • You have noticed that Sonny is a really good artist and often spends time drawing pictures of what is going on around him. Sonny, aged 12 • What might happen, if you do nothing to help Sonny find more positive behaviours? • What could you change to help Sonny find positive behaviours? • What ‘job’ do Sonny’s challenging behaviours do and what positive behaviours could Sonny try instead? Casey, aged 14 • home schooled by their Dad. • They are struggling with bullies in the area they live because they are non-binary and use they/them pronouns. • comes to the youth session with their twin, Molly, because their Mum works late. Casey didn’t choose to attend. • signs of self-harm on their arms and often refuses to eat with the other young people, making excuses that they are not hungry or have already eaten. • has been caught trying to self-harm with a sharp pencil before and Mum was really angry. • They seem quite unhappy but very rarely speaks to anyone about their feelings. They are very isolated from the group. • Both Casey and Molly are waiting for an assessment for autism and struggle with some tasks. Casey is a naturally talented musician and plays guitar and piano. Casey, aged 14 What might happen, if you do nothing to help Casey find more positive behaviours? What could you change to help Casey find positive behaviours? What ‘job’ do Casey’s challenging behaviours do and what positive behaviours could Casey try instead? Lee, aged 16 • lives with his Mum and his Dad is currently serving a two prison sentence. • before his Dad went to prison, Lee was a friendly and approachable person, who enjoyed boxing club, playing football and going to the gym with him. • recently been given a warning for threatening to hit a youth worker and punched a wall, causing some damage. • He was immediately sorry for what he had done but would not talk to anyone about it. • spends his time in the youth session playing ping pong with his friend Max, who is a popular group member. • sometimes hangs around outside the session after everyone goes home and seems withdrawn and angry and the younger members avoid him. • He has not been in school for nearly a year because of a serious incident. Lee, aged 16 • What might happen, if you do nothing to help Lee find more positive behaviours? • What could you change to help Lee find positive behaviours? • What ‘job’ do Lee’s challenging behaviours do and what positive behaviours could Lee try instead?
