Table of Contents
Understanding Children covers some of the more specialised areas of understanding children. Delve into the CAP Model, and how and why different age groups learn and behave. Dive deep into what motivates children and how to deal with behaviours, creating experiences that will develop a lifelong passion for the mountain environment.
Negative Behaviours
Firstly, we need to understand that there is always a reason for negative behaviour. Children do not just play up for the sake of it. When dealing with children we must never lose our cool with them. We are the adult in charge, they are the child; it is not the other way around. Remaining calm will help in dealing with the issue.
Some negative behaviour traits may include bullying, tantrums, sulking, crying, defiance, and so on. Some of the reasons for these behaviours may include boredom, fear, frustration, discomfort, hunger, tiredness.
If we understand that there is a cause and effect relationship with negative behaviour, we will have a better chance of managing it.
Here are three simple tactics that may help when dealing with children who show negative behaviour:
The Diversion Tactic
Put simply, the instructor tries to divert or distract the child’s attention by changing something in the lesson. This could be done by asking the student to lead the group, completely changing what you are doing, or focusing on something fun that they want to do. This tactic is often just a short-term fix and may not completely eliminate the issue.
Finding the Cause
Here, the instructor begins with simple questions to try and find out what is making the child act negatively. Caution should be taken with this approach not to question too deeply, as we may not be equipped to achieve a solution. If the instructor is able to find out what the problem is, then the solution may be very simple. A strong grasp of the CAP model will help to build understanding of the common causes for negative behaviours we experience when teaching skiing.
The Ultimatum
This tactic is a last resort, only to be used if the child’s behaviour is having a negative effect on other students or it is becoming a safety issue. In a calm and non-judgemental manner, the instructor states that they want them to stay in the lesson but they will no longer be able to continue in the lesson unless the negative behaviour stops. If they leave the lesson, they will need to explain why they were not able to continue to their parents or caregiver. When using an ultimatum, always give the child a choice, e.g. “I really want you to stay in this lesson as I think we can have a lot of fun, but if you keep being nasty to the others, I’ll have to take you back to my supervisor.”
Hot Tip
However you choose to deal with the negative behaviour of a child, remember to address it in the summary of your lesson with the parent or teacher. Discretion may be important here, depending on how the child responded to your tactics during the lesson. Ensure that you are empathetic and understanding of the causes, rather than judgemental.