Creating a Behaviour Management Plan

Information relating to the child's background is recorded here. These might include:

• family information
• place in family
• culture
• family structure
• additional needs
• disability
• medical history.

In here you would record specific behaviours that the child is demonstrating.

You must list the exact behaviour, not your interpretation of it. For example, 'hitting' rather than 'being naughty'.

These are factors that may be contributing to the child's behaviour, for example:

• death in the family
• moving house
• losing a pet.

In most cases, a child will be demonstrating more than one behaviour that is inappropriate.

In this section, you would allocate a priority to each behaviour, according to its severity.

In this section you should explain the justification behind the plan - that is, why you want to change the child's behaviour.

You must also list the specific actions you will take to guide the child's behaviour.

This section will detail the exact strategies you're going to use for the actions listed under 'intervention'.

You should also detail whether the strategy involves other children, the child's family or other staff.

This refers to the support required by people within Cybertots and also to members of the child's family.

In this section you should detail exactly what modified behaviour you are aiming for.

For example:

• Peter will stop smacking other children.

In here you would detail any limits that exist, or need to be put in place.

When developing limits, consider the child's age and abilities.

Limits must also be consistent.

This section is used to detail any external support involved in the plan - for example, agencies or support services.

In here, you would identify how you're going to monitor changes in the child's behaviour.

You would also keep records of changes in the behaviour, detailing exactly how it was/is changing.

This is where you would evaluate the success of the whole Behaviour Management Plan.

You would detail any changes that have taken place, and any follow-up actions required.

Australian

'Australian' is much too broad, and therefore not of much use. We don't know anything about Kya's family members or any additional needs she may have. This column is very important and should contain as much information as possible.

Pretty naughty.
Uncontrollable.
Violent.

The terminology used here is very subjective - it sounds like an opinion. This is NOT appropriate - behaviour indicators need to be completely objective and specific, and focus on what the child is actually DOING.

Dad left home 2 years ago and Kya hates him for leaving.

The fact that Kya's dad left 2 years ago would certainly be an antecedent event, but it's not appropriate to make a judgement about how Kya feels - particularly writing that she hates her father. Remember, Kya's family members would be able to read this document.

1. swearing
2. kicking
3. hitting
4. scratching
5. biting.

These behaviours are not prioritised correctly. Out of the five listed, biting would have the highest priority, because bites can break skin. After biting would come scratching, kicking, hitting and finally swearing - in that order.

Justification - for protection of staff and other children.

Actions - watch Kya over next month to see what she gets up to.

The justification shown here does not indicate any concern for Kya - only for other children and the staff. The suggested action is very inappropriate and would probably make Kya feel intimidated and afraid.

• follow Kya around so she knows she's being watched
• stop Kya when I see her misbehaving
• get other staff to keep an eye on her too
• sit Kya next to me at group times
• support the other children by taking their side without question.

These are not positive strategies. Following Kya around and watching her is likely to upset her further, and taking the side of the other children is going to make Kya feel that she's being alienated, or that everyone is against her. Also, with Kya's current behaviour she should not be in group situations. These actions would also be against the policy on guiding children's behaviour at Cybertots.

Nil

When you consider the support that would be available from other centre staff and Kya's family, it is inappropriate to put 'NIL' in this section of her Behaviour Management Plan.

• for Kya to settle down
• to control Kya.

'Settle down' is very subjective and unclear. It is also inappropriate for a child care worker to try and 'control' a child.

Kya must:

• stop hurting the other children
• sit down quietly at group time
• stop being so naughty.

These are very negative limits that don't have any real value in guiding Kya's behaviour. Also, Kya shouldn't be in group situations until her behaviour changes.

Nil

In Australia, many external support options are available. It is possible that Kya has some emotional issues that she's trying to deal with, and professional support could be really useful.

This field is blank because the plan was never implemented due to its lack of positive guiding strategies.

This field is blank because the plan was never implemented due to its lack of positive guiding strategies.