Module: 1.3.1 Understanding the Behavior of Children and Youth
This module was developed as part of the California Department of Education/Child Development Division School-Age Training Project and revised in 2016 to incorporate social-emotional learning and the Quality Standards for Expanded Learning in California and revised in 2019 to incorporate language to support mental health and wellness.
This training will provide participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to prevent unwanted behavior by meeting the physical and social-emotional needs of children and youth before they act out.
In this training participants will:
- Understand behavior as purposeful, and learn how to look for patterns in behavior that will help identify possible causes of that behavior;
- Learn effective behavior guidance strategies or techniques
Content Overview:
Training Introduction
Participants consider an airplane maintenance analogy that illustrates the purpose of this training module, learning how to prevent the occurrence of problem behaviors in children and youth.
Intro to Understanding Behavior
Participants review the five premises of human behavior that inform our work with children and youth.
- People are social beings, with a need to belong.
- People view a situation from their own perspective.
- People are decision-makers.
- Behavior is purposeful.
- Behavior should be understood as a whole, or part of a pattern.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Participants will explore Maslow's hierarchy and will focus on the more basic needs: physical health (physiological needs), security, belongingness, and esteem.
Looking Back, Looking Forward
Participants examine scenarios depicting an unwanted behavior. They suggest what can be done to prevent the problem situation from reoccurring in the future, and outline the planning steps can be taken to minimize unwanted behavior.
What Can I Do? Creating an Action Plan
Participants consider how they will apply some of the knowledge that they have gained to their work.
Training Length: 2 hours