Behaviour in Relation to Young Children

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Types of behaviour that a young child could display, Factors affecting behaviour and causes of unacceptable behaviour The behaviour of a child is sometimes a barometer of the way that he feels, or of his frame of mind. It is an outward face displaying his inner state, indicative of his emotional wellbeing with regression, withdrawal, tearfulness or disruptiveness suggesting some sort of anxiety within. Excitement could be suggested by ebullience, disruptiveness or general boisterousness; perhaps accompanied by higher pitched and faster speech than usual. Boredom may lead to disruptive, withdrawn or listless behaviour. Alternatively listlessness could be seen as an indicator that he is unwell, as could tiredness, weepiness or disruptiveness. To identify the cause of unusual behaviour it is necessary to consider both the personality of the child and also the context. Some unacceptable behaviour may be preceded, or triggered, by similar events. For example, separation from the primary carer (although it is sometimes the adults anxiety that is transferred to the child), or by being asked or expected to perform a new task whem he doubts his own ability or fears failure. Identifying triggers connected to unacceptable behaviour is important in managing and modifying the behaviour of a child. When looking at behaviour, both acceptable and unacceptable, one must view the child as a whole and take into account factors such as the environment and culture into which he is born and lives. For instance, in some cultures it would be disrespectful for a child to make eye contact to an adult in authority, or to speak to them, without being invited to do so. Conversely, in our own culture, eye contact is considered so important that it a yardstick of normative

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