How to Handle Challenging Behaviors

This post goes out to the frustrated parents. (So, likely all of us at some point.)

Challenging behavior is a part of growing up and parenting. We know that it’s normal, we know our children need to experience it to grow and learn, but that does not make it any easier in the moment. If you are anything like us, you might pause from time to time and ask yourself, “What would Montessori do?”

There are no perfect answers, and Dr. Montessori would have recognized that what works for one child will not necessarily work for the next. We can, however, rely on our knowledge of human development and typical child behavior to help guide us. We hope this post will provide you with some helpful tips!

As Montessorians, we tend to follow a hierarchy when we address issues with children. We look at:

1. The environment
2. Ourselves
3. The child

The Environment 

Environment affects us all, and as adults we can carefully craft an environment that suits the needs of our children. This is why Montessori teachers (or guides) meticulously create classrooms with a specific order and flow to them, and why the teachers are constantly observing and analyzing what should remain the same and what should change.

We feel confident in saying that most of the time, a change in the environment can change the behavior. Some examples:

• Does your toddler enjoy dumping the contents of whatever they can find? While this is a very normal stage for them to go through, it can cause a lot of extra work for us as adults. Limit their options! Keep dumpable baskets and boxes up higher where children cannot reach them and rotate reachable items on a regular basis to keep interest alive.
• Have you noticed your three-year-old spilling snack and frequently leaving crumbs behind? Leave a small dustpan and brush in a space where the child can access it. You will likely need to show how to use it many times, but your child will get it! When this happens, the joy your child will feel from sweeping will be adorable.
• Are mornings with your seven-year-old rushed and chaotic? Make a list and post it in a highly visible area (perhaps the bathroom mirror). What do you expect the child to do independently in the morning? The list may contain items like: brush teeth, get dressed, brush hair, eat breakfast, and so on. Make sure everything needed to get ready is in one centralized space. Have your child prepare as much as possible the night before to ease the pressure in the morning. Children can pack their own lunches and lay out their own clothes.
• Is your teenager having a hard time focusing on homework or household responsibilities? Create a distraction-free zone. Have a clutter-free desk in a quiet area of the house. Make sure devices like cell phones are left to charge in a completely different area of the house.

Ourselves

This is perhaps the hardest part for many of us, but sometimes children’s undesirable behavior is tangled up in our own actions and/or perceptions. Some questions you may want to ask yourself and reflect on when you feel frustrated include:

• Is this behavior truly a problem?
• Are my expectations appropriate for the child’s age and developmental stage?
• How might my reactions be contributing to the behavior?
• Am I well rested/fed/de-stressed/fully able to work with my child without letting my own problems be a factor?
• Are my reactions based on my own experiences as a child?

We realize that these can be some pretty deep questions. Our jobs as parents are hard enough and there is no need to be judgmental, especially of ourselves, but reflection can be helpful. We also know that it’s not always possible to deal with a child’s behavior while being completely stress-free, well-rested, etc., but it can be helpful to recognize when we might be playing a role in what is going on.

The Child 

Sometimes there really is something going on within the child that needs to be addressed, and it can be a simpler explanation than we might expect! Some possibilities to consider:

• Is the child getting enough sleep?
• Is the child hungry?
• Is the child getting sick (coming down with a cold or the like)?
• Is the child entering a growth spurt or new developmental phase?
• Has there been a recent change in the child’s routine?
• Are there changes occurring in the family?

Sometimes a child might be upset about one area of life and behaviors manifest in a completely different way. For example, an eight-year-old may be facing friendship challenges at school. Instead of talking about the problem, she may unintentionally take her frustration out on the parents. This is a common occurrence when children do not fully understand why they are upset, are unable to articulate the issue, and yet feel safe to be themselves fully at home. Of course we must set expectations that our children are to be kind, but having this insight may help get to the root of many issues.

Regularly talking to our children, especially as they get older, can be very helpful in helping them navigate through the common (yet sometimes painful) experiences of growing up. Many families find that bedtime tends to be when their children speak freely about what’s bothering them. Even as your child gets older, set aside time in the evening to be together. This can be time together reading, cuddling, or talking about the day.

Final thoughts

Two last bits of advice that are perhaps the most important: do not expect perfection and find a supportive group of parents.

We know our children will not always be perfect, and neither will we. Children will push boundaries and make mistakes - lots of them - and as parents we won’t always know the best way to handle things. We will learn together.

Having a group of parents that you can vent to and celebrate with is so helpful. Whether you meet up for coffee, chat on the phone, trade tips through social media, or sit on the sidelines together at soccer games, remember to reach out to others. We are all in this together.