For Preschool/kindergarten teachers: What would you do if your students misbehaves?

Question

Do you punish them? Scold them? I want to know in case this question is asked during my interview for this Pre-school teaching position...
I thought that if a student misbehaves I would probably give them a time-out...What do you teachers think? Thank for any help..

Answer 1

I have been teaching young children for twenty years. We use a variety of behavior management techniques. Here are a few:

Proximity Control: This is the easiest behavior management strategy, and it works much of the time. Proximity Control means putting yourself where the action is. Sit on the floor or at a table with the children. Play with them or involve them in conversations. Often just having a teacher nearby prevents problems before they even start.

Modeling: Children learn from watching us so always think about what you are doing in the classroom. If you want children to lower their voices, then make sure you’re not yelling. If you want children to be polite to one another, you also need to be polite.

Distraction: Sometimes you can head off an inappropriate behavior before it gets out of control, by offering an alternate activity. This is especially effective with younger children.

Redirection: Similar to Distraction, Redirection works by taking the emphasis off the inappropriate behavior and replacing it with a positive behavior. The difference is that Redirection involves actually moving the child to another area of the room. For example if two children are arguing about who can build on the block rug, you could help one child find an alternate space to build.

Limited Choices: If a child is having a difficult time controlling his or her own behavior, we can help by giving more structured choices. This is especially helpful if a child seems to be overly excited or stimulated by the activity in the classroom. Make sure the child always has at least three choices to pick from. (For example, “I’m going to help you calm down a little. Right now, you can choose to draw, read books or paint at the easel.”

Time Alone: Sometimes a child has an extreme amount of difficulty controlling his or her behavior and it is necessary to remove the child from other people for a short time. This is usually only done when there is the threat of danger to the child, another person or equipment. If you need to remove a child for a short time, find a place where he or she can be alone (within view of a teacher) and give the child something to do. We never use “time-outs” as a punishment. Our Time Alone is a way for the child to calm down and regain control. We should not have a child sit alone for more than 3-5 minutes for this age group.


Logical Consequences: Sometimes it is appropriate to give a consequence for a negative behavior. If you chose to use a consequence as a behavior management technique, there are two things to remember:

1. The consequence always needs to be logical. This means that it has to make sense to the child. If a child knocks down a friend’s block tower, it makes sense that he or she helps to rebuild the tower. It does not make sense for that child to miss gym time later in the day.

2. The consequence should take place as soon as possible after the behavior. Even our oldest children can’t always remember what they did two or three hours ago.

Family Support: We talk to children’s families about their behaviors on a regular basis. This isn’t so that we can “tattle” to the parents about what happened during the day. Rather, it is important that the children understand there is a link between school and home, and that the family and teachers are a team.

Hope this helps! Good luck at your interview.

Answer 2

If it's not a serious behavior issue I would try to redirect the child to a more appropriate activity. If they repeat the behavior or if it's something more serious, a time out is the best thing to do. I have also made children eat alone at snack or lunch time if the usual time outs and reprimanding don't work. Then of course there is always sitting out a portion of recess. Kids are so different and what is important to one, may not be important to another. For some kids, timeouts are great, others need more serious consequences like not being able to participate in special activities. Good luck with your interview.

Answer 3

The answer I would give is this:
"It would depend on the situation and the developmental level of the child."
Not all children will respond to a time-out, and some may not be able to process the idea at all. It would depend on the cognitive development of the child, the offense, and what would be the best course of action in the situation. Say a child bit someone- there are several responses that could be used: a firm, "No biting. We bite food, not people.", a time-out, ignoring the behavior, giving attention to the other child who was bit, or giving the child something appropriate to chew on. Some of these methods may work with a child who is sensitive to time-outs, another child might need that oral fixation and sensation to relieve the urge to bite. It all depends on the child and the child's needs. Hope this helps!

Answer 4

I'm a teacher and I have been asked this question often in interviews. Here is the jist of my answer.

First, I give the student a "friendly reminder." I'm reminding them that their current behavior is not ok and is not acceptable in this classroom. Next, I ask them to change their card -- they now need a visual reminder to change their behavior (In the "card system" student have green, yellow, and red cards in a pocket chart. Green = good, yellow = warning, red = serious trouble). If it happens a third time, their card is changed to red and their parents will be notified.

Always, in your interview, explain that once the red card it hit, you will have a phone call home. If it happens again, a talk with the parents and the student together in a conference. And most importanly, always say, "I will do my best to keep the student in the classroom as long as possible, because once they leave the classroom, learning stops, and that's just something I'm not ok with."

Good luck with your interview! I hope this helps!

Answer 5

In all my years of working in Preschool and Elementary we would use "Raflection Time" for the older ones and for the really young one usually redirection or some quiet time. You remove them from the situation and let them know that their behavior is not acceptable and say you need to sit here for a few mintues quietly and think about what you did. After they are quiet (rule of thumb- 1 minute per year) you get down on their level and ask why they got put there in the first place and then explain to them why you did what you did. Let them know what is expected of them. In the case of repeated behavior problems fun activities will be taken away. You can also use reward charts. Letting the child be your special helper helps for those that behave.

Answer 6

I am not a teacher but I do know of the "alternate" disiplines of children. I was a babysitter, almost like a daycare only not... any way I would have chair in a seperate room that had absolutely nothing in it just walls and a chair. Isolation I found is the best to make a child behave whether it's once or a gagillion (not very adult like I know but seriously there have been some) times. I've always left them in there for about 5-10 min. As for a preschool teacher and a babysitter I would inform the parents of disiplinary actions.

Answer 7

Every time a child misbehaves it is a learning opportunity for them. Each time you need to talk to them about why they did what they did. Help them figure out what they could have done differently and then have them apologize. Children are in preschool to learn social skills. It is our job to model good behavior and teach them how to do the correct thing. Most children do not think about what they did wrong during a time out, so time outs end up being a waste of time.

Answer 8

I don't call it a "time out" but more of a quiet moment. for an an example. Johnny hits Mary. First of all i go over to Mary and makes sure she is OK and than i will take johnny away from the other children ( no screaming). i than get down to his level and say " johnny, you hit Mary and that is not how we behave when we are angry. We use our hands to give high fives, eat, give a hug or a pat on the back. next time you are angry, why don't you use your words and tell that person how you feel. now you need to have a quiet moment to think about what you did and when you are done you can tell Mary you are sorry" Just remember that kids that age will "forget" the rules. Usually you give them a warning and if that fails, a quiet moment to cool off is the best idea.Also if you see a child misbehaving, look at the other children who are doing well and say aloud "wow, look at chris, he is using his manners. GOOD JOB chris" the other kids see this and want that praise as well. so they began to use thier manners as well. you get the idea. wish you well.

Answer 9

I would guess that has everything to do with the type of misbehaviour...Punnishment is NEVER an option. For children that young a "look" or a verbal reprimand is usually all it takes. "Jack, is that something you can be proud of?" Yes, even with kids that young. or "Oh. I see that not everyone is following the rules...I can wait" You see, it all depends on the student's behaviours. Time-outs are usually effective only if you've already given the child a warning...good luck!

Answer 10

I am a preschool teacher. A time-out is acceptable but a lot of places would rather it be called quiet time. And they can only be left in quiet time for one minute of their age. Example: If the child is 3 then he\she can only be left in quiet time for 3 minutes. Never yell at the child or cause physical harm.