Positive Approaches to Behaivor

Positive Approaches to Behavior is an 18 hour training course for ECD service providers including IDP, AIDP, SCD and ASCD staff, child care providers, parents, family resource programs, preschool and staff in community settings that provide services for children from birth to six. This training module discusses behaviour and the factors that influence its designation as “challenging.” The course encourages participants to look at their own values and beliefs about children’s behaviour as well as aspects of the setting that may contribute to challenging behaviour. Participants are introduced to the teaching pyramid for supporting social competence and preventing challenging behaviour in children. The course discusses the importance of forming a partnership with parents in order to develop an effective positive behavioural support plan.

The curriculum consists of six, three hour long, sessions. It is designed so that participants develop specific strategies and action plans as the course progresses, and have opportunities to practice and integrate them during the course. Skill building occurs in a sequential manner. It is therefore important for participants to attend all six sessions to maximize learning. The curriculum is designed for teams supporting a child with challenging behaviour with the parents and child at the center of the team. Participants are strongly encouraged to attend the training as a team. The following is a brief description of each session:

Session 1, Introduction to Positive Behavioural Support for Young Children

Focuses on a new way of supporting children with challenging behaviour. Traditional approaches to challenging behaviour are discussed and contrasted with a new paradigm of support that focuses on the strengths, abilities and learning profile of the child, and incorporates a pyramid of approaches to challenging behaviour.

Session 2, Building Positive Relationships

Incorporates a strength based and child and family centered approach to prevent challenging behaviour and promote social and emotional development

Session 3, Preventative Practices

Introduces participants to a range of evidence based environmental and organizational practices designed to prevent challenging behaviours and provide a nurturing, positive learning and home environment.

Session 4, Social Emotional Teaching Strategies for Children at Risk

Builds on the principles of Sessions 2 and 3 and introduces participants to specialized group interventions for children at risk of developing ongoing challenging behaviour.

Session 5, Intensive Individualized Support for Children with Ongoing Challenging Behaviour

Introduces participants to a function based approach to challenging behaviour where the goal is to determine what the child is “getting or avoiding” via their behaviour and teach them positive replacement behaviours.

Session 6, Intensive Individualized Support for Children with Ongoing Challenging Behaviour

Extends the functional assessment training from session 5 to include a range of individualized positive behavioural support strategies.

The Partnerships Project Training Modules are a community based training delivery model for practitioners and parents in communities who serve children birth to six with special needs and their families.