Goals of Misbehavior - Power

Misbehavior can be broken down into four basic categories:

1.  Attention
2.  Power
3.  Avoidance of Failure
4.  Revenge

If you understand these goals of misbehavior, you can change your reactions to the behaviors and in many cases can change the behaviors of the child. The goals of the misbehavior are subconscious to the child. The child is not deliberately acting in negative ways. The child is using unsuccessful methods of filling unmet needs.

3.  Avoidance of Failure

Avoidance of failure may be the hardest behavior to change. The child feels inadequate and unable to achieve. You will recognize this behavior because you will feel at a loss as to what to do. This child has usually experienced many failures and has given up.

A strategy to work with this child is to carefully plan esteem-building activities that allow the child to be successful and continue to build upon these experiences. Slowly the child will learn that she or he is capable and will gradually start taking on challenges by herself or himself.

Note: In order to thrive, all children need to feel nurtured, be accepted for who they are, and shown respect for their feelings.

Related training:
Child Self Esteem (1 hour / .1 CEU)
Enhancement of Social and Emotional Development  
A Simple Approach to Knowing the WAC's: Staff Interactions with Children - 2 hours