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Creating a Behaviour Management Plan

One way we can deal with a childs behavioural issues is to formulate a Behaviour Management
Plan. The aim of the plan is to develop a series of actions that can be taken to guide the childs
behaviour.
A Behaviour Management Plan is formulated after evidence has been collected, so that we are
well informed about the situation before deciding on any actions to be taken.
Only a qualified child care assistant can develop the plan, and it is always completed in
consultation with all staff, parents/guardians and management. The plan would then be filed with
the child's other records and forms.

Information required
The evidence required to create a Behaviour Management Plan includes:

observation of antecedent events

information gathered through a discussion with the child's parent/s or guardian/s

background information on the child.

Layout of the plan

The format of a Behaviour Management Plan will change from centre to centre, however they
usually cover the same areas. Below is an example of a plan.
Name of child: ___________ Age: ___
Start date: _______ End date: _______

Background
Childs background

Behaviour indicators

Information relating to the child's

background is recorded here. These might
include:

family information
place in family

culture

family structure

additional needs

disability

medical history.

In here you would record specific behaviours that

the child is demonstrating.
You must list the exact behaviour, not your
interpretation of it. For example, 'hitting' rather than
'being naughty'.

Antecedent events

Prioritise behaviour

These are factors that may be contributing

to the child's behaviour, for example:

death in the family

moving house

losing a pet.

In most cases, a child will be demonstrating more

than one behaviour that is inappropriate.
In this section, you would allocate a priority to each
behaviour, according to its severity.

Behaviour Management Plan

Intervention

Strategies

In this section you should explain

the justification behind the plan that is, why you want to change the
child's behaviour.

This section will detail the

exact strategies you're going
to use for the actions listed
under 'intervention'.

You must also list the specific

actions you will take to guide the
child's behaviour.

You should also detail

whether the strategy involves
other children, the child's
family or other staff.

Aims
In this section you should detail

Limits

Support - internal
This refers to the support
required by people within
Cybertots and also to
members of the child's
family.

Support - external

In here you would detail any This section is used to detail

exactly what modified behaviour

you are aiming for.
For example:

Peter will stop smacking

other children.

limits that exist, or need to be any external support

put in place.
involved in the plan - for
example, agencies or support
services.
When developing limits,
consider the child's age and
abilities.
Limits must also be
consistent.

Evaluation
Behaviour
In here, you would identify how you're going to monitor changes in the child's behaviour.
You would also keep records of changes in the behaviour, detailing exactly how it was/is
changing.

Plan
This is where you would evaluate the success of the whole Behaviour Management Plan.
You would detail any changes that have taken place, and any follow-up actions required.

An ineffective plan

To successfully manage a child's behaviour, consistency between home and the centre is
required. That's why it's very important that the parent(s) or guardian(s) agree with, and have
input to the strategies that will be implemented. Plans can be developed in consultation with the
child's parent(s) or guardian(s).
Often the Behaviour Management Plan is not only for the staff to see, but the child's parent(s) or
guardian(s) would also be provided with a copy. So naturally, you need to be sure that the plan is
positive, focused and objective.
Below is an example of a Behaviour Management Plan that does not meet these requirements.
Name of child: Kya Samuels Age: 4.9yrs
Start date: November 2001
End date: December 2001

Background
Childs background

Behaviour indicators

Australian

Pretty naughty.
Uncontrollable.
'Australian' is much too broad, and therefore not Violent.
of much use. We don't know anything about
Kya's family members or any additional needs The terminology used here is very subjective she may have. This column is very important and it sounds like an opinion. This is NOT
should contain as much information as possible. appropriate - behaviour indicators need to be
completely objective and specific, and focus
on what the child is actually DOING.

Antecedent events

Prioritise behaviour

Dad left home 2 years ago and Kya hates him for
leaving.
The fact that Kya's dad left 2 years ago would
certainly be an antecedent event, but it's not
appropriate to make a judgement about how Kya
feels - particularly writing that she hates her
father. Remember, Kya's family members would
be able to read this document.

1. swearing
2. kicking
3. hitting
4. scratching
5. biting.
These behaviours are not prioritised correctly.
Out of the five listed, biting would have the
highest priority, because bites can break skin.
After biting would come scratching, kicking,
hitting and finally swearing - in that order.

Behaviour Management Plan

Intervention
Justification - for protection
of staff and other children.

Strategies

Support - internal

follow Kya around so she knows Nil

she's being watched
When you consider the
stop Kya when I see her

misbehaving
Actions - watch Kya over
next month to see what she
gets up to.

support that would be

available from other
get other staff to keep an eye on centre staff and Kya's
her too
family, it is inappropriate
sit Kya next to me at group times to put 'NIL' in this
section of her Behaviour
support the other children by
Management Plan.
taking their side without question.

The justification shown here

does not indicate any

concern for Kya - only for
other children and the staff.
The suggested action is very These are not positive strategies.
Following Kya around and watching her
inappropriate and would
is likely to upset her further, and taking
probably make Kya feel
the side of the other children is going to
intimidated and afraid.
make Kya feel that she's being alienated,
or that everyone is against her. Also, with
Kya's current behaviour she should not be
in group situations. These actions would
also be against the policy on guiding
children's behaviour at Cybertots.

Aims

for Kya to settle

down

Limits
Kya must:

Support - external
Nil

In Australia, many
external support options
are available. It is
'Settle down' is very
stop being so naughty.
possible that Kya has
subjective and unclear. It is
some emotional issues
also inappropriate for a
These are very negative limits that don't that she's trying to deal
child care worker to try and have any real value in guiding Kya's
with, and professional
'control' a child.
behaviour. Also, Kya shouldn't be in
support could be really
group situations until her behaviour
useful.
changes.

to control Kya.

stop hurting the other children

sit down quietly at group time

Evaluation
Behaviour
This field is blank because the plan was never implemented due to its lack of positive guiding
strategies.

Plan
This field is blank because the plan was never implemented due to its lack of positive guiding
strategies.