Kindergarters throwing tantrums when they don't get their way???

Question

I am currently a student intern at a local Kindergarten and I have a few children I'm not sure what to do with. They aren't really problem children... perhaps just wanting attention. Everytime they are asked to do something (put papers away for example) they will fall to the floor and cry which causes classroom disruption. We have gone at this from several different angles but nothing has worked. I do realize that school is new to these children and they might need to adjust. I was wondering if any experienced teachers might know where I could find some information (articles perhaps) on dealing with this type issue. Everything I've searched for deals more with behavioral problems like fighting. Any ideas, websites, or terminolgy I could search would be most helpful!!!

Thanks so much!

Answer 1

Welcome to the wonderful world of five-year olds!

Please do not be afraid to talk with the school guidance counselor about these behaviors! He/she will be able to give you some input. Also, talk with your cooperating teacher--she may have insight into these students or their families that could be helpful to you.

It does take time for some students to adjust, but if it has been a few weeks and the behaviors persist, it may be helpful to talk with the parents; this behavior could happen at home, too.

You may want to praise the students that are doing a good job who sit next to the disruptive students (and ignore the behaviors of the disruptive students) and give them a sticker or other treat while you praise them for doing what they are told. When the disruptive students see that the other students are getting the attention and praise, they might decide that they want the praise and attention and realize that they are not getting it with their current behavior. It may take a few days of tantrums, but if you ignore the tantrums and praise the good behavior the students will eventually get the message.

Answer 2

First, it's only the first month or so of school. For some kids, it takes 6-9 weeks of consistent discipline before you see a change of behavior.

There needs to be a quiet corner in your classroom. When a child starts to tantrum, move the child to that corner and state, "when you are through crying, you may come back to the group." Then move away. When the child stops crying long enough to take a breath, ask, calmly, if they are through, if they are, then they get to come back and comply with your directions. If they start crying again, then walk away and leave them again.

While they are in time out, make sure you are paying lots of attention to the kids who are behaving, etc and giving lots of verbal praise. When the kid who has been in trouble comes back to the group and complies with your direction, then you give him or her verbal praise.

Make sure the rest of your discipline plan is in place. You have a visual schedule so the kids know what is coming next. You have good transitions from one activity to the next. (For example, the kids get a '3 minute warning' that a change is coming up and there's a visual and auditory signal when it's time to switch from one thing to another.

Positive behavior is rewarded and negative behavior is dealt with calmly and dispassionately.

Good luck.

One more thing, if you cannot get the kid to move to time-out, then move everyone else away to a FUN activity and ignore the crying kid. Have lots of fun reading a book over here and let the other kid cry it out. However, when the kid has stopped crying and wants to the join the group, you must say, “first you must go to time-out as I have told you to do.” This will provoke another round of crying and it might take you all morning to get the kid to comply with time-out and with whatever the original instruction was. But you MUST make sure that any direction or instruction that you give is obeyed. If you tell a kid to pick a book up, then by gum you must make sure that kid picks that book up. Otherwise you will just be teaching them that they can ignore you.

This is very difficult with some kids because you must have a lot of endurance. However, if you can get through it, the behavior will improve.

Don’t forget to get parents on your side. You should be calling them and sending notes home.

Also, remember to pay attention, lots of attention, to their good behaviors.

Answer 3

okay I used to teach but not kinders . do they take regular nap time ? they may just be tired . some maybe just not disiplined at home and are allowed to get away with things at home . Have you talked to the parents ? I would start there and go from there . good luck .

Answer 4

What exactly have you tried?

My suggestions would be to ignore it (unless they are causing possible harm to others or themselves), correct the behavior, praise those who do the correct behavior, or punish those who REPEATEDLY do the distracting behavior.