Oliver (Name changed for privacy) is a bright and energetic toddler who lives with his parents and older sister. He started attending a new childcare centre six months ago. While he is affectionate at home, his transition to the new care environment was turbulent.
Presenting Issues:
- Severe separation anxiety manifesting as prolonged screaming at drop-off.
- Physical aggression (pushing and hitting) towards peers when asked to share toys.
- Difficulty following group instructions, often running away during circle time.
- Frequent emotional outbursts that educators struggled to de-escalate.
The Challenge
For Oliver’s parents, the morning drop-off had become a source of daily dread. The "terrible twos" seemed to have morphed into a "threenager" phase that was unmanageable. The childcare centre had raised concerns about Oliver’s impact on the safety and learning of other children.
Impact at Home & School:
- At Childcare: Oliver was frequently isolated from group activities due to his disruptive behaviour. Educators were finding it difficult to manage his outbursts while caring for the other children.
- At Home: The stress of the mornings lingered throughout the day. His parents felt judged and helpless, worried that Oliver would be asked to leave the centre.
- Development: His inability to regulate his emotions was preventing him from forming friendships and engaging in the early learning curriculum.
We thought Oliver was just being 'naughty', but the team at daar showed us he was actually overwhelmed. Once we started using the visual charts and the 'When/Then' language, it was like a switch flipped. He felt safe, so he behaved better.
daar Therapy Approach
Oliver’s family reached out to daar for guidance. Our team of clinicians implemented a tailored childcare behaviour support plan, grounded in the "Iceberg Analogy"—looking beneath the surface behaviour to address the underlying needs.
Key Interventions Implemented:
- Identifying the Root Cause: We observed that Oliver’s aggression was often a result of sensory overwhelm and a lack of social skills (he didn't know how to ask for a turn).
- Visual Supports: We introduced a visual schedule at both home and childcare. This simple chart showed "Drop-off -> Play -> Snack," helping Oliver predict his day and reducing his anxiety.
- The "When/Then" Strategy: To manage refusal, we coached educators and parents to use positive "When/Then" statements (e.g., "When you pack away the blocks, then we can go outside") to set boundaries without power struggles.
- Co-Regulation Techniques: Instead of "time-outs," we established a "calm corner" with soft sensory toys. Educators were trained to help Oliver co-regulate by breathing with him until he was calm enough to talk.
- Socialised Behaviour Therapy: We facilitated small group sessions where Oliver practiced turn-taking and sharing in a structured, low-pressure environment, effectively teaching him the "rules of the road" for friendship.
Results and Progress
After three months of consistent positive behaviour support across both home and childcare settings, Oliver’s behaviour transformed. The partnership between his parents and educators was crucial to this success.
Measurable Improvements:
- Drop-off Success: Morning meltdowns ceased completely. Oliver now walks into his room confidently and waves goodbye.
- Social Skills: Incidents of hitting have dropped to near zero. Oliver now uses his words to say "My turn please" or uses a sand timer to wait for a toy.
- Emotional Regulation: He has begun to self-regulate, voluntarily going to the "calm corner" when he feels frustrated rather than lashing out.
- Group Participation: Oliver now sits through the entire circle time and actively participates in songs and stories.
Key Outcomes
Oliver’s journey illustrates that child behaviour and progress are deeply linked to the environment and the support strategies in place.
- Educational Engagement: Oliver is now learning and absorbing information at a rapid rate, no longer hindered by emotional distress.
- Social Inclusion: He has made several friends at the centre and is frequently invited to play.
- Parental Confidence: His parents feel empowered with a toolkit of strategies (like positive reinforcement) that they can use to navigate future challenges.
Conclusion
Behaviour is a form of communication. When we stop reacting to the behaviour and start supporting the child, amazing things happen. Oliver’s story is a powerful reminder that with the right behaviour therapy for children, even the most challenging phases can be turned into opportunities for growth.
If you are struggling with behaviour challenges at home or childcare, you don't have to navigate it alone. Childcare behaviour support can provide the roadmap you need.
Ready to support your child’s success?
Contact daar today to schedule a consultation and discover how our evidence-based strategies can bring harmony back to your family life.