Promoting Positive Behaviour

Workshop Aims:

1. To explore what behaviour we expect of adults and children at group night

2. To have an increased personal understanding of what ‘pushes our buttons’

3. To identify suitable strategies for managing the types of behaviour we do not wish to see at group night

Time Activity Equipment11:30am Introductions

Self, Debs McCahon, Membership Development Manager

Workshop aims

11:35am Grandma’s footsteps An ice-breaker game to see what

behaviours/action we naturally adopt in a group activity.

Ask for a volunteer to play Grandma. Grandma is to stand at one end of the room with ‘her’ back to the rest of the group.

Everyone else is to creep up on ‘Grandma’, but if she turns round she shouldn’t see you move.

Behaviour cards – complain that things aren’t fair, blames other people, encourages others to cheat, overly competitive

11:45am Feedback from above activity As a whole group ask and record:

1. What different behaviour strategies did members adopt?

2. Was all this behaviour what we would expect or encourage?

Flipchart paper & pen

11:55am What is Behaviour? In small groups list the types of

behaviour associated with the following categories:1. Good2. Aggressive3. Disruptive4. Naughty5. Unco-operative

Flipchart paper & pensBlue tac

12:15pm Pushing Buttons & Responses In three small groups (as adult

helpers, as Pioneers & as adults)

Pieces of A5 cardPens

record:1. What do Pioneers do to push

your buttons?2. What do adults do to push your

buttons?3. What action could you take to

support a Pioneer to co-operate?

Record one behaviour/action per card

12:25pm Live it out Get the ‘adult’ to stand at one end

of the room, with the ‘pioneers’ at the other. The ‘adult helpers’ should be to the side with a table in the middle.

Ask the ‘adults’ to lay one of their behaviours/actions on the table. Encourage the ‘Pioneers’ to respond. Similar to a game of snap, and watch the behaviour escalate.

The ‘adult helpers’ are there to calm things, promote positive behaviour and encourage the behaviour we expect at group night. They should intervene with a promoting positive behaviour strategy whenever they see fit.

A table & some space

12:35pm Feedback

How did the exercise feel? Did it remind you of your group

night? What strategies do you use? Did the group suggest the following:

1. Separate the child from the behaviour: “I welcome you, but I will not accept this behaviour”.

2. Use ‘I’ messages” I feel upset” not “You naughty boy!” messages which accuse and put the child on the defence.

3. Take action for self, not against the child (that may mean removing yourself from the situation if you are going to ‘lose it’)

4. Stay calm, stay separate from the behaviour by remembering not to personalise the behaviour and do not get into conflict.

5. Act from a place of understanding by talking ‘with’ not ‘at’ the child

6. Correct the behaviour, but not the child and do not over punish

7. Do not break relationship with your child

12:45pm Points to remember

Look at the child and ask the ‘W’ Questions

1. Why is Behaviour happening?2. What’s going on for the child?3. Who is it happening with?4. When is it happening?5. Where is it happening?6. What is taking place?7. Why the defensive response? Look at yourself:

1. Look at how you interact with the child on a daily basis

2. Do you regularly affirm this child?

3. Do you treat him/her with respect?

Helpful hints:

1. Remember that a behaviour that is noticed increases ‘Thank you for putting your cup in the dishwasher’ in other words ‘Catch the child being good’

2. Request respectfully, do not order or command

3. Be clear about expectations, write them as a group – Remember the younger members will have expectations too

4. A problem behaviour that’s ignored decreases i.e. Ignore the bad behaviour

5. Settle for less than perfection. 6. Give them choices, and say ‘You

Record ‘W’ questions on to flipchartRecord ‘Helpful hints’ on to flipchart

decide’, this shows you respect them and teaches responsibility.

Training:1. Additional training as part of

Learn 2 Play & Venturer Leader2. Specialist training from

organisations such as the National Autistic Society

1pm Close