ABSTRACT
Behaviors manifested by children may be attributable to problems in the immediate environment. These problems may involve such variables as temperature, humidity, wind, lighting, background, auditory and visual distractions, water temperature, architectural barriers, and the amount of space and time. By carefully structuring or anticipating consequences of the environment, teachers can prevent many inappropriate behaviors. Reinforcement can be either positive or negative. Positive reinforcement is a response that is designed to increase or strengthen a desired behavior. Teachers and parents frequently use social praise to successfully manage behavior. Prompting is a method of strengthening or developing appropriate behaviors. When developing physical education programs for children with behavior disorders, teachers should be cognizant of all aspects of the environment, teacher-child communication, and specific behavior management techniques. Teachers should strive for children to self-manage their behavior so that teachers can become actively involved in teaching rather than behavior management.
