Early Childhood Mental Health:
Intervention with Young Children
This Web page is a source of information for teachers and home visitors working with young children who are experiencing mental health challenges, challenging behavior, or other delays in their social and emotional development. It contains training modules and manuals designed for staff development and in-service events. Additional information on challenging behavior related to autism and autism spectrum disorders is also available on our Web site.
Teaching Tools for Young Children with Challenging Behavior (2008)
The "Teaching Tools" were developed by the Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention (TACSEI). They are meant to assist teachers in developing a plan to support young children who are having challenging behavior. The User's Manual explains how to use the tools and provides the technical information needed to access hyperlinked visual supports and materials. Also included is the Routine Based Support Guide, which accompanies all of the tools and is organized into routines and activities that typically occur in early childhood programs. Additional TACSEI resources on supporting very young children with challenging behavior are also available.
Promoting Social and Emotional Competence (2003) (downloaded 10/27/10)
The Center on Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning has developed has developed a set of three Infant/Toddler Training Modules and a set of four Preschool Training Modules to be used by TA providers to train staff in early care and education programs about the social-emotional needs of young children. The content of the modules is consistent with evidence-based practices identified through a thorough review of the literature.
Positive Beginnings-Supporting Young Children with Challenging Behavior
This series of on-line training modules was developed at Florida State University. It can also be ordered on CD.
- Social and Communication Development
- Determining the meaning of Challenging Behavior
- Positive Behavior Interventions and Support
- Teaming to Build a Behavior Support Plan
- Intervention in Everyday Settings, Supporting Families
Preventing Challenging Behavior in Young Children: Effective Practices
While there is no one solution for preventing challenging behavior, this brief from the Center for Evidence-Based Practice: Young Children with Challenging Behavior describes several early intervention strategies, including:
- arranging of the classroom environment,
- scheduling, and;
- implementing rules, rituals, and routines.
DEC Position Statement and DEC Concept Paper on Identification of and Intervention with Challenging Behavior
These two documents from the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) provide guidance on recommended practices for identifying and working with young children with challenging behavior. Also available to order from DEC is Monograph No.1 of the "Young Exceptional Children Series" - Practical Ideas for Addressing Challenging Behavior (downloaded 12/8/10)
Positive Behavior Support
There is a growing body of evidence on the effectiveness of Positive Behavior Support (PBS) for young children. This Web site from the Center for Evidence-based Practice: Young Children with Challenging Behavior provides information on the steps that are essential to the process of PBS, a synthesis of the research and several case studies that illustrate the success of PBS with young children and their families.
School wide Positive Behavior Supports: Implementers' Blueprint and Self Assessment
This blueprint was developed by OSEP's Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. It presents a rationale for adopting school-wide positive behavior support (SW-PBS), describes key features of SW-PBS, and illustrates processes, structures, and supports of SW-PBS.
Positive Behavior Supports Guideline
This is an introductory article for parents and teachers from ARC about the meaning of positive behavior support.
Research Syntheses on Strengthening Parent-Child Relationships
This Web page links to a number of practice-based research synthesis from the Research and Training Center on Early Childhood Development that focus on strategies for strengthening parent-child relationships.
