Introduction

This book takes an overall perspective on young children’s behaviour. Rather than offering a single approach or a specific strategy to deal with children’s difficult behaviour it clarifies all those factors which must be taken into account when promoting positive behaviour in school. The message is that it is the ‘whole package’ that makes the difference. A strategy is only as good as the context in which it takes place.

Here we clarify the rationale and underlying philosophy of the book. A major theme is that although not all behaviour is learnt there is a learning component to all behaviour with which teachers can work. We share some of the excellent practice that has been developed in schools to help children learn to behave well. This is set within a framework which addresses the needs not only of children, but also of their parents and teachers. The contents of the book have a sequence, outlined in this section, which first deals with the promotion of positive behaviour for all young children and then looks at individual needs. The goal of promoting positive behaviour is ultimately the development of self-management. The foundation stones for this must be addressed, if not from infancy; then from children’s earliest days in school.