Infant & Toddler Group Care
Understanding Children’s
Behavior
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Learning Objectives
Participants will:
• Describe ways in which culture influences how
one views behaviors as “ideal” and acceptable
or not.
• Name and use the 5 root causes of
infant/toddler behaviors to analyze scenarios.
• Describe various alternative adult responses to
the children’s behaviors.
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What are the behaviors of your ideal
child?
Active
Approaching
Honest
Persistent
Independent
Quiet
Curious
Cautious
Confident
Takes Risks
Loyal
Playful
Sensitive
Obedient
Assertive
Spirited
Confident
Predictable
Industrious
Sense of Humor
Quiet
Asks
Questions
Independent
Cooperative Dependable
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What is your “IDEAL” child?
In small groups,
compare your list with
your discussion
partners. Note
matches and
differences across the
lists in your group.
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The Flip Side … Behaviors That You
Find Challenging?
• Visualize a behavior
you find particularly
challenging.
• Describe the behavior
in two or three words to
your table partners.
• Discuss why the
behavior bothers you.
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Annoying Behavior?
Most behavior of young
children that annoys adults is
normal and part of the child’s
development.
Adults can save themselves
concern and trouble if they
understand the cause(s) and
the purpose(s) of each
behavior concerned.
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Five Possible Causes of Behavior
•
Developmental stage
•
Individual differences
•
The environment (home and child care
settings)
•
Child doesn’t know – but is ready to learn
•
Unmet physical or emotional need
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First Possible Cause:
The Developmental Stage
What is happening?
•
•
Maturation
Practicing necessary
aspect of mastery and
human development
How can I tell?
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Second Possible Cause:
Individual Differences
What is happening?
•
Each child is different
•
Temperamental or
constitutional
qualities
•
Unique physiology
How can I tell?
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Third Possible Cause:
The Environment
What is happening?
•
Child care setting
•
Family home
setting
How can I tell?
What should I do?
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Fourth Possible Cause: The Child Does
Not Know, But Is Ready to Learn
What is happening?
•
Child does not
know something,
but is ready to
learn
How can I tell?
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Fifth Possible Cause:
Unmet Physical or Emotional Need
What is happening?
•
•
Missed out on
something
developmentally and
emotionally important.
Searching ways to
meet emotional needs.
How can I tell?
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Activity: What Do I Do?
In small groups, read the assigned
scenario and answer the following
questions:
• What is the unacceptable
behavior? Why is it
unacceptable?
• What are possible causes?
• What are appropriate
teacher responses?
• How might the child respond
to the teacher’s actions?
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Rocky was born prematurely. He has been in child
care for over a month, and staff are getting
frustrated, because he cries whenever they put him
down. Rocky’s mother has been very sick and in the
hospital, and his father is trying to take care of him
and his older siblings, in addition to going to the
hospital each day. Rocky’s crying seems to be
getting more intense and more frequent.
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Bella is 18 months
old. She has a feisty
personality.
Teachers have
noticed a pattern of
behavior, that when
they move from one
area to another,
Bella reaches out
and bites whichever
child is closest to her.
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Joaquin is new to your
program. His mother
reports that he has
always startled at loud
noises, cries when
someone new enters
the room, and doesn’t
like new foods. There is
a new caregiver in the
program, and Joaquin
won’t let her change
his diaper, feed him, or
put him to sleep.
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Tracy is 18 months old. You have a couch in the
corner of the room that you use for a quiet area,
reading books and doing finger play. Tracy is using
the couch differently -- he is climbing on the couch,
climbing over to the other side, or climbing on, then
standing up and jumping to the floor.
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Jasmine is 10 months old and has been
eating strained food for several months, and
has also been reaching for finger foods and
eating using her fingers. You have
introduced applesauce to her lunch, and
she is trying to feed herself the applesauce
with her fingers.
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Small Group Reports: “What Do I Do?”
Present your scenario to the
large group and your
proposed strategies to help
the child described.
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Key to Understanding Children’s
Behavior:
“When we understand the reasons for infant and
toddler behavior, we can respond to it in ways
that support children’s healthy growth and
development and simultaneously decrease our
worry and frustration. Infants and toddlers are
working hard to understand their new feelings and
ideas, to figure out their worlds, and to learn how
to interact with other children and adults.”
Janis Keyser, MA. Socialization and Guidance
of Infants and Toddlers, Concepts for Care
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