Externalizing Behavior in Preschool Education

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Externalizing Behavior in Preschool Education

• Kelly Rueda
• SPED 404
• Fall 2006

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Externalizing

• Acting-out, aggressive or disruptive behavior
  directed towards others

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Characteristics

• Biting
• Hitting
• Inappropriate language
• Vandalism

• Fighting
• Kicking
• Screaming
• Scratching

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Prevalence

• 10-15 of young children have mild to moderate
  behavior problems
• (Campbell 1995).
• 47-80 of preschoolers identified as having
  behavior problems exhibit these problems into
  school age
• (Campbell and Ewing, 1994 Egeland, Kalkose,
  Gottesman, Ericson, 1990)

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Educational Considerations

• Include social and behavioral skills in
  curriculum (ie. songs, books rhymes)
• Teachable moments
• Ongoing monitoring/assessments

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Educational Considerations

• Clear consistent directions routines
• Provide additional time for smooth transitions
• Reasonable choices
• Clear, reasonable, and consistent consequences

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Classroom StrategiesPositive Behavior Supports

• Identify the behavior
• Conduct a functional behavioral assessment
• Develop a hypothesis
• Target a replacement behavior
• Teach student new behaviors/strategies

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Useful Websites

• www.pbis.org
• www.oslc.org
• www.challenging behavior.org
• www.edjj.org