Collaboratively Addressing Behaviors in the School and Home Setting
Written by Alyson Forgione (Clinical Intern) | Edited by Monekka Davis, LCSW-C
Across the country, many youth struggle with regulating their emotions or behaviors in the school setting. This can stem from a myriad of reasons, including, but not limited to, peer conflict, low self esteem, anxiety, trauma, and so much more. Social, emotional, and behavioral challenges can often become extremely overwhelming for not only the child, but for families and schools alike. As a result it is essential to bridge the gap for families with children who struggle emotionally or behaviorally in school. It is crucial to provide children with access to resources and the care needed to foster growth and success, as well as make them feel safe and valued.
In order to best support children who struggle, collaboration, communication, and consistent support across settings is essential.
Best practices for supporting youth who struggle across settings include:
- Open communication: Schools (teachers, counselors, etc.) and families should establish a reliable, consistent mode of communication that allows them to share information or observations about a child’s behaviors or emotions. Oftentimes this is known as a “home-school communication system.” This can be utilized for students with individualized education plans, but also for any/all students who may need support. This open line of communication can help create a clear picture of the child and their needs.
- Clear, Consistent Expectations: Families and schools should work toward setting clear, concise, and age appropriate expectations for a child who may be struggling. This is especially important for children who may struggle behaviorally.
- Positive Reinforcement: The use of positive reinforcement is essential to help children find their strengths, worth, and value within themselves. Positive reinforcement also aids in managing behaviors, as systems such as behavior charts that result in concrete reinforcers (ex: time with a preferred adult, stickers, candy, etc.) are extremely helpful for encouraging expected behaviors.
- Collaboration: Families and teachers should engage in joint problem-solving meetings or sessions in order to generate creative solutions for supporting a child who may be struggling emotionally or behaviorally in the school setting. Having families and schools collaborate, helps bridge the gap between the home and school setting. Alongside this, families and schools could work together to seek out different resources for a child who may need extra support.
- Checking In: Frequent check in’s are essential for both the child who may be struggling, but also for the family to have a true understanding of what is occurring during their child’s school day.
By fostering collaboration and understanding, families and schools can create a supportive environment that addresses the child’s needs effectively.
If you’re an educator in Maryland interested in our services, explore our Educator Wellness & Connection Series – Maryland workshops, and feel free to reach out to bring these offerings to your school.