Managing Groups of Children

Managing a group of children can sometimes be a challenge. There are a few things that can enhance group behaviors. This is appropriate for use with one child or thirty, in a classroom or at home.

– Be prepared for anything, and be organized. Make sure materials are interesting, eye catching and at your fingertips. Actively engage all in the group to be involved in the activity. Be sure that you are actively engaged also. Be ready to follow the child’s lead and adapt your activity to it, without sacrificing your intended goals, when necessary.

– Redirect inappropriate behavior with a gentle voice. Your voice should show no emotion, only a gentle statement of what you want from the group. Yelling and emotion serve to escalate the negative behavior.

– If there is a need for redirection to a new activity, do not request, but gently take the child to the new space, remembering gentle actions and emotionless words.

– Establish consistent rules, natural consequences and routines. Children do well when they know what to expect and that what you say … will happen, in a consistent and gentle manner. Be sure that your rules and consequences are doable and short lived (If a child is playing with an inappropriate toy, simply walking over, quietly removing the item and putting it away for the child will work).

– Using positive behavioral techniques to reward good behaviors is certainly a great way to stop inappropriate behavior.