Category: Challenging behavior
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Trauma, Healing, and Positive Identity Development
We have come to realize that bullying is trauma. And many who are bullied or have been bullied have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Bullying can come from peers, but it can also come from a number of other sources, such as aids, teachers, and even the parents of peers. There are countless stories of…
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The Impact of Punitive Discipline on Students with Cerebral Palsy
Students with cerebral palsy (CP) face unique challenges in the educational environment. Unfortunately, these challenges often extend beyond their physical and cognitive limitations to include disproportionate disciplinary measures. Punitive discipline, such as suspensions and expulsions, can have lasting adverse effects on these students. Understanding the impact and advocating for more inclusive approaches is crucial.
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Stickers Don’t Work for Adults Either
We are a society of “earners.” The transactional systems many of us have been raised on that focus on earning prizes, tickets, and rewards do not have the expected effect. It does not create intrinsic motivation. I could quote Alfie Kohn from his book “Punished by Rewards” here. But what I am seeing is that…
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Interpersonal Safety in the Age of Behaviorism
What do reasonable behavior expectations look like? Different types of behavior are appropriate in different circumstances. The circumstances include externally observable elements as well as things that can only be internally observed by the person exhibiting the behavior.
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Reframing Behavior: A New Neuroscience Aligned Program for Educators
Today, I am thrilled to share what I believe to be one of the most significant accomplishments of the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint in achieving our mission. I am excited to introduce you to Reframing Behavior, a groundbreaking neuroscience-based educator training program developed by the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) in partnership with the Alliance…
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A Literature Review Examining the Ineffectiveness of Punitive Discipline and Corporal Punishment
Punitive discipline and corporal punishment have long been widespread practices in schools to address stress behavior of students. Over the last two decades, a growing body of evidence has shown that such approaches are not effective in correcting stress behavior and are detrimental to students’ well-being. In fact, evidence-based data suggests that punitive discipline and corporal punishment have a…
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Disabilities and Disparities: Why disabled students are disproportionately impacted by restraint and seclusion
Like many other harmful practices, restraint and seclusion in schools are not experienced equally by all students. Students with disabilities, Black and brown students, boys, and young children are disproportionately impacted by restraint and seclusion in schools. In this article, I will focus on the impacts on students with disabilities.
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It’s About Helping Children and Youth, Not Controlling Them
I have this thought floating in, what I lovingly refer to as the abyss of my mind, that I cannot seem to escape. Jobs like social work, teaching, nursing, and other jobs that carry the label of a helping profession attract different kinds of people. On one side of the helping profession are those who…
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A Trauma-informed Lens on Behavior
Students who have experienced trauma may not always display behaviors that immediately evoke empathy. Managing and expressing emotions can be challenging for these children due to the impact of trauma on their brains. The trauma alters their brain’s instinctual response to “fight, flight, or freeze,” making emotional regulation difficult.
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What About the “Other” Children?
What about the other children? The very problem with this question is that it is coming from a place that only holds space for neurotypical children who don’t appear to need more support. I say appear because there are so many children who are simply better at masking but would absolutely benefit from the same…