07/15/2021
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Kids do well if they can. Kids with behavioral challenges are not attention-seeking, manipulative, limit-testing, coercive, or unmotivated. But they do lack the skills to behave appropriately. Adults can help by recognizing what causes their difficult behaviors and teaching kids the skills they need.
Behind every challenging behavior is an unsolved problem or a lagging skill (or both).
Kids who haven’t responded to natural consequences don’t need more consequences, they need adults who are knowledgeable about how challenging kids come to be challenging, who can identify the lagging skills and unsolved problems that are setting the stage for maladaptive behavior, and who know how to teach those skills and help solve those problems. We’ve learned a lot about children’s brains in the last 30 years. It’s time for our actions to reflect our knowledge. KIDS DO WELL, IF THEY CAN!
