WestEd.org

Understanding Children’s Behavior

Scenarios for Group Discussion

WestEd.org

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 plus go to the hospital each day. Rocky’s crying seems to be getting more intense and more frequent.

WestEd.org

Bella is 18 months old. She has a feisty personality. Teachers have noticed a pattern with Bella when they move from one area to another. She reaches out and bites whichever child is closest to her.

WestEd.org

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.

WestEd.org

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.

WestEd.org

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.