How Should a Teacher Handle Bad Behavior With 4-Year-Olds?

When 4-year-olds and young children begin school, there may be a lot of adjustments to make. For many, it is their first time away from home, so they have to learn to conform to a new routine and increased accountability. Some might have no siblings, so interaction with other kids could be difficult until they learn to share and settle conflicts. Preschool teachers devote much time to behavioral management and misbehavior, such as tantrums, acting out, challenging behaviors, and aggressive behaviors. Their goal should be to help students recognize bad behavior, correct it the child’s behavior, and accept the natural consequences to promote positive reinforcement, good behavior and appropriate behavior in the future.

Rules and expectations are necessary at every grade level, but are crucial for preschool and daycare. Since this will probably be the first formal academic year for students, teachers and caregivers frequently have to remind them of the rules, reinforce discipline strategies, explain them, and redirect them to positive behavior. At the beginning of the school year, teachers should gather students together and explain each rule, specifically and clearly, as well as consequences for negative behavior. Rules need to be simply stated. For example, "Be nice to your classmates," "Take turns," and "Share with one another." Teachers can facilitate discussions about why it's not good to be mean or selfish.

Inevitably, many 4-year-olds will give teachers a hard time with the boundaries established by the teacher by misbehaving. When this happens, it presents an opportunity for a "teachable moment" in the classroom. For example, if a student hits a classmate who has a book the student wants or engages in disruptive behavior, the teacher will immediately enforce the consequence for this behavior and then explain to the class that "Johnny" is sitting in the time-out chair because he let his anger control him and made a bad decision. During whole-group time, teachers can role play examples of bad behavior by interacting with a couple of students. They can pretend to be on the playground refusing to play with a new student or making fun of him. Afterward, teachers can ask students who are watching to suggest alternative ways of responding in this situation.

When students break the rules with bad behavior, they and the others in the class will observe the teacher's reaction to the child’s misbehavior. Even at 4, children quickly learn that they can get away with something if their teacher is an inconsistent disciplinarian to behavior problems. A child’s teacher should enforce the consequences as stated in the rules. Sometimes teachers want to keep giving students chances to correct their behavior before punishment, which might be acceptable in certain situations. However, students have to learn that there are positive and negative consequences for their actions. If a teacher has continually stated that hitting a classmate will result in 10 minutes in the time-out chair or the loss of 10 minutes of play time, she should enforce it. Shaming a child by spanking or allowing temper tantrums will only make behavior problems worsen.

If a student continues to persist in bad behavior, the teacher should schedule a conference with the parents and help with parenting tips. There might be an underlying physical or emotional mental health issue cause which can explain their child's actions or behavior issues. Teachers should also enlist help from the school counselor. It is not uncommon for kids to open up to someone who is not a direct authority figure. Teachers should not wait too long before addressing extreme behavior because of the potential detrimental effect it can have on the child and the class.