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Challenging Behavior

The Sit and Watch Procedure for Behavior Management

I’ve been fortunate enough to attend several conferences where Dr. Robin McWilliam shared his insights on early intervention and child development. At one session, he discussed a technique called the “Sit and Watch” procedure, designed for preschool settings. The concept immediately resonated with me. For years, I mentioned this strategy to parents and teachers, but…

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This is Early Intervention

Family Playtime

Building a strong, loving family bond doesn’t require elaborate vacations; it starts with simple, positive activities and intentional time spent together. Whether you are looking to boost your child’s development or simply reduce household stress, establishing a regular family game night or dinner tradition can make an almost instant difference.

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Challenging Behavior

Behavior Charts: Pros and Cons

When I was in school, the system for managing behavior was simple, if harsh: write your name on the chalkboard, and check marks and a possible paddling would follow. Later, when I became a mother, my child’s classroom (as well as everyone else’s) employed a color-coded traffic light chart. Everyone seemed to love this system.…

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Challenging Behavior

Strategy for Challenging Behavior— Baby Proofing

If you are a working with young children with difficult behaviors, right away my piece of advice is simple: stop wasting your energy disciplining minor issues like “stay out of the fridge,” “don’t touch the garbage,” or “get down from there.”

That energy is better spent meeting the developmental needs and teaching appropriate behavior. In…

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This is Early Intervention

Managing Germs in a Houseful of Children: Lessons Learned

This experience forced a complete reassessment of our health protocols to move from general hygiene to strategic infection control. “Germs” is a non-medical term for microscopic organisms—bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa—that cause disease. Children under seven are particularly vulnerable because they have immature immune systems and a natural tendency to put their hands and toys…

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Early Intervention Activities

Throw This, Not That

Some children just love to throw stuff, and it’s a powerful developmental drive. We don’t want to hurt people or break stuff, but constantly fighting a toddler with that impulse often leads to frustration for both the adult and the child. Our immediate, instinct is to say, “Stop throwing stuff!” But what if we paused…

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Early Intervention Activities

DIY Light Box for Early Intervention

A DIY Light Table for Sensory Seekers I know what it feels like to be out of ideas. When our foster son entered our lives, he was a vibrant, intense sensory seeker. He needed high-octane input, often chewing on non-food items, bumping, crashing, and constantly moving. He struggled to settle and focus on quiet activities.…

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Challenging Behavior

Challenging Behavior: Dealing with Children who Bite

As a teacher and foster parent, I have seen biting behaviors resolve through team-based plans and specific strategies. When these strategies were consistently in place, the biting behavior disappeared. I realized that adults often want the child to simply “stop,” but the most effective interventions begin by changing the environment to reduce triggers like stress,…

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Challenging Behavior

Challenging Behavior: Self-Injury

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for a small child hurting himself. It’s a difficult situation but it can improve over time. Early Intervention providers working with families going through this need to remember to be supportive and encourage them to focus on one thing at a time one day at a time.

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