ABSTRACT
Behaviour in children, particularly unwanted behaviour, have in the past been interpreted as misbehaviour in a child. Children have been labelled as “naughty” and sadly still are in many communities. Gradually with the new findings in neuroscience, experiences have been found to affect the development of the brain, and the reason for children’s behaviour is being considered through careful, unbiased observations. The aim of this chapter is to identify reasons for children’s behaviour through the development of the brain, considerations of attachment theory, home life and day-to-day experiences rather than management of behaviour. The role of adults is considered, especially that of the key person in nurseries and day care settings, and the role of multi-professional teams.
