Reviews - Behaviour
'Understanding Children's
Behaviour' is aimed at staff
in after-school clubs but is
relevant to any setting and
to anyone working with children. The book specifies that
it is for workers dealing with 8-12 year olds but the
thoughts in the book cover a much broader age range
and is relevant to almost any age of child. It aims to
provide playworkers with a resource to enhance their
skills with an emphasis on being able to dip in and out of
the text according to need.
This book is fairly easy to read - the writing seems quite
daunting but is broken up with plenty of sub-headings
and bullet points. There are a good number of case
studies which illustrate points well and are easy to relate
to. At the end of each section there are key points for
workers to remember whilst working with children who
are shy, aggressive, worried etc - questions to ask
yourself, questions you may wish to ask the child and
points for reflection.
The book also looks at difficult situations that
playworkers face, such as children stealing, lying and
fighting. It would be valuable for any playworker to
understand the possible reasons that underlie such acts
and the book highlights that understanding the causes is
a vital part of dealing with the behaviour. It is helpful that
the book points out what is 'normal' in children and what
we need to worry about.
'Understanding Children's Behaviour' promotes an
emotionally intelligent approach to behaviour, with an
emphasis on allowing children to feel emotion, hearing
them and understanding them. It's quite practical and is
well worth a read for playworkers, setting managers or
Development Workers with a responsibility for behaviour
training or workshops.
Written by Joanne Mulcahy, Play Development Worker, Neath Port Talbot.
This book was a total breath of fresh air and everyone should read it! It is
a book that says everything that I ever wanted to say about 'behaviour management' but was too scared. Once you
get over the initial thought that the author isn't going to give you the answer to all the behavioural problems
you think your minded children (or indeed your own children) may have, you can settle back, enjoy the book and
pick up some great tips. The book starts off with the premise that children don't have the problem with behaviour;
it is us as adults who have the problem and that we should look at why we expect certain behaviours from children -
is it just to make our lives easier or is it actually for the benefit of the children?
Some people will be horrified to learn that the author does not endorse the use of sticker charts or reward
charts etc but once you read through the reasons why, it does all make sense! Read the book and you will see what I
mean. The writing style is funny and engaging, yet gets its message across strongly and I for one will be trying out
the techniques suggested. The pictures and cartoon images bring the message home strongly too - you try not to laugh
at the image on page 23! It does turn all the usual behaviour management strategies on their heads, but if it makes
you think, that has got to be a good thing! I highly recommend this book and
would give it 10 out of 10.
Written by Sara Hooper - review for the National Childminding Association.
Upon seeing the cover of this book for the first time, the expression 'don't judge a book by its cover'
sprang to mind, as it looks like a mathematics text book. However, I was still optimistic because it
claims to offer practical techniques to support children's social and emotional needs, which are too
often neglected.
The book guides the adult through twelve structured sessions in which they support a child on a one
to one basis to recognise their negative feelings, what causes them and what would help them feel
better. Although Mortimer explains that the framework can be used with children aged 4-11, it definitely
appeals to older children, as the adult's role is to introduce different ideas during each session but the
onus is on the child to identify and develop the themes.
The approach would only be suitable to help children with minor emotional difficulties and worries, as
through the sessions the child will develop a better understanding of their emotions, however it seems rather ineffectual because there are
no suggestions as to how to manage them.
Written by Deborah Fullwood, manager of an out of school club and SEN TA.
This book is written for
parents, carers, support
assistants, child minders
or mentors, who are
managing children with
anger management problems, aged 5 to 11
years old.
The beginning of the book gives a general
summary of the theoretical background behind
this behaviour that is easy to understand, and
suggests ideas to handle the two components -
managing the feelings and addressing the
source of the anger.
Dr Mortimer uses a firework as an analogy of
anger. She suggests triggers that might light
the fuse (sometimes long or short) to reach the
spark, which is when the anger erupts. She
identifies the triggers and suggests ideas to
dampen or stop them before the firework or
anger goes off. This is a really good visual
analogy of anger and when used with children
should help them understand themselves
better.
The book offers 12 sessions which are written
as an interaction between adult and child and
work towards the writing of a target plan for the
child's behaviour. Some of the sessions are only
suitable for children over 7. These sessions are
useful to help the adult as an example but they
are very prescriptive and could be damaging to
the child if used without flexibility to adapt to
the child.
The book states that childrens' opinions must
also be accepted and gives many good ideas
and suggestions too. Dr Mortimer does
recommend using the book creatively and
adapting it to your situation.
Written by Ruth Livesey, an Advisory
Teacher from Jersey.
Links to other review sections:
Activities and Games,
Behaviour,
Management,
Outdoor Play,
Play,
Play in Schools,
Playwork Theory,
Play Therapy,
Playwork,
Rights and Responsibilities.
| 
