Running Head: CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS Solving Challenging Behaviors: A Multifaceted Approach Designed to Help Children Learn to Manage Themselves

Asserting that young children often demonstrate challenging behaviors for any number of reasons, this paper presents strategies designed to prevent problem behaviors in young children. Basic principles for establishing a community of learners are discussed. Strategies for teaching children to negotiate, problem solve, and understand the viewpoints of others also are included. The paper also presents a number of research-based techniques designed to prevent negative behavior in children with persistent behavior problems. Behavioral analysis of the setting, events, behaviors, and consequences is explained. Specific techniques to pre-empt problem behaviors are then presented: the Premack Principle, high-probability request sequences, delay cues, and the use of paired distracters. Next, teaching alternative replacement behaviors for negative behaviors is discussed. Finally, the article emphasizes the importance of family involvement when helping young children to improve behavior. (Contains 18 references.) (Author/EV) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the on inal document