We can’t force kids to socialize with each other. But we can teach them the needed social skills so they are able to socialize if they want to.

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Polly answers the question: “What can I do with ‘littles’ who won’t line up to come in from recess? They seem to think it’s a game but I’m not having any fun!”

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I’m often asked if there are responses to a behavior that can make the situation worse? Yes, absolutely!

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Polly answers the question: “I have a kid who sometimes escalates during activities, or refuses to go to classes, or shuts down when presented with tasks. Why is this? Is it the teacher, the content, the environment, the kid’s life experiences? Logical consequences work sometimes. But is it possible to do something proactively that would actually decrease these behaviors?”

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Remember when kids would pass notes? Now they text or just talk to each other. Here are some tips on how to handle these behaviors.

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Polly answers the question: “I have done a fabulous job lately of not taking the bait and avoiding power struggles! I have one kid in my class who I used to go to battles with constantly. However, now that I’m managing him better, he is trying to get other kids to turn against me! Any thoughts about what may be the next steps with him?”

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What’s the best thing we can do when little kids start to unravel? Co-regulate!

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Polly answers the question: “I work in a self-contained, more restrictive program. We have one kid who has a history of being a ‘runner.’ I want to prevent this but I realize that I can’t possibly block doors or be at two doors at once. How can we prepare for this in advance? And how can we respond so the running stops eventually?”

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We often define lying as disrespect. But doing this gets our emotions involved and we take the behavior personally.

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Polly answers the question: “I have been assigned to run an In School Suspension room. I’m having so many problems with this! The kids dismiss me, the staff walk in whenever they want to reprimand kids in my care, and the kids think the whole thing is a joke. Any advice?”

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