4. Prove That Negative Thinking Doesn’t Work
The previous slide easily leads into this and the next. When a child acts out, it is important to show them how that did not create a positive response. That doesn’t mean you yelled or gave them time out or sent them to the principal’s office, you can just show them how much time was lost and what could have been accomplished. Try to spin the time loss into something that could have been truly enjoyable.
For example, if the class loves a particular activity, let them do it, but cut it just short enough to be noticeable. Explain that the time lost due to the outburst caused that particular activity to be shorter than normal. This leads to a pro vs. con view of how they react. If they become defiant, they are taking away from the things they enjoy, and they may be hurting others enjoyment in the process. In time this will click, but it likely won’t be immediate. Stick to it and you should see some change over the course of a few outbursts.