Behavioral challenges in the classroom can impact not only a child’s learning but also their social development, emotional health, and overall well being.
As a parent, you play a significant role in helping address these behaviors and supporting your child’s education.
Here are practical steps parents can take to effectively address behavioral concerns and partner with school for positive outcomes.
Understand the Root Causes
Behavior can communicate unmet needs and frustrations.
Begin by exploring possible underlying issues. These might include challenges with foundational academic skills, weaknesses with socialization and peer interactions, heightened sensory sensitivities, or marked difficulties with emotional and behavioral regulation. If possible, engage in conversations with your child about what they experience at school to better understand their feelings and perspective.
Observing your child at school can also provide valuable insight to behavioral antecedents, behaviors experienced, and the consequences of those behaviors.
Establish a System of Communication
Proactively reach out to your child’s school team to establish a consistent method of communication that works for you, such as weekly emails or phone calls, progress review meetings, and the regular sharing of behavioral data.
Clearly share your observations, concerns, and strategies that have worked at home.
Request feedback on your child’s behavior in the classroom and discuss how both home and school strategies can and should align to foster progress across settings.
Collaborate on a Behavioral Plan
Work closely with teachers and special education professionals to create a targeted behavioral plan.
This can be integrated into your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan if applicable. Such plans identify specific behaviors, outline strategies, and target areas for growth, utilizing a structured, and individualized, framework. Parents should actively contribute so that strategies align between home and school to create consistent expectations and interventions across settings.
Reinforce Positive Behavior
Positive reinforcement is highly effective in promoting desirable behaviors.
Celebrate your child’s successes. Rewards don’t always have to be tangible—verbal praise, extra playtime, or a special activity can be powerful motivators.
Consistency in reinforcing positive behaviors at home will significantly enhance the effectiveness of strategies used in the classroom, and vice versa.
Seek Additional Supports When Needed
If behaviors persist despite coordinated efforts, consider seeking additional support or resources. If you need help in navigating this process, a Special Education Attorney can help.
Make sure the school recognizes behavioral challenges as potentially linked to educational or developmental considerations rather than labeling them simply as problematic behaviors.
Your active involvement makes a real difference. By taking time to understand what’s behind your child’s behaviors, collaborating with your school team, and seeking out expert advice and guidance, you are advocating for your child and maximizing their opportunity for growth and success.
About Ancel Reiter LLC
Whether through Special Education Legal Representation or Child & Family Advocacy Services, our central goal is to empower parents and their children with the knowledge to find success at school, at home, and in the community. Our legal practice focuses on special education law and related issues in the greater Chicago area: Cook County, Lake County, DuPage County and throughout Illinois.
For more information, contact us today.