Challenging Behaviour in the Classroom

In a classroom environment, one of the biggest obstacles you may face is dealing with children with challenging behaviour. Not only does the child affect you trying to teach a lesson and maintain control, but they also disrupt the productivity of the class as a whole.

Children who display challenging behaviour don’t usually do so ‘just because they want to’. There’s often a reason behind their behaviour or it might be their only way of telling you something’s wrong. All behaviour is a form of communication. Therefore, it’s essential that you understand the causes of challenging behaviour and know what strategies will help you deal with it.

What are the Possible Causes of Challenging Behaviour in Children?

Knowing what causes challenging behaviour in children is crucial for dealing with it appropriately. Some potential causes include:

• Health: does the child have an underlying medical problem that explains their behaviour? If a child is experiencing pain or discomfort then they may be acting out to express this, particularly if they have a problem communicating it.
• Behavioural difficulties: conditions like ADHD, autism, and other learning difficulties may make the child unable to handle and express their feelings effectively. Furthermore, if other children leave them out due to these difficulties, it’s likely to make their feelings and behaviour worse.
• Change: it’s worth asking yourself whether the child has been through any big changes recently and whether this is causing them to display challenging behaviour. For example, if they’ve moved school, their parents have separated, or someone close to them has passed away.
• Learned behaviour: the child may have learnt that acting out is how they get what they want, or may have been in an environment where everyone acted in the same way.
• Home environment: if the child has a poor home environment, such as frequent arguing, then they may feel like shouting and hostility is the norm. Additionally, if there are parental issues, such as domestic violence, mental health problems, and substance misuse, the child may adopt challenging behaviour as an outlet.
• Boredom: challenging behaviour may arise if the student feels bored in class and with their work. Moreover, an unrecognised talent may also result in the behaviour, as students struggle to stay on track with something they already know how to do.
• Lack of routine: a lack of routine, often in the their home environment, can also create challenging behaviour. For example, late bedtimes and not enough sleep, insufficient support, and no behavioural boundaries.