Module 2
Handout 15: Trouble Spots*
Dealing with Distractions
- Children with problem behaviors may move from object to object and from place to place, and have difficulty completing any given tasks. This lack of focus affects their ability to play and learn. It also affects their ability to participate in group activities. If someone enters the room, or if too many things are on the wall, they may simply lose their concentration.
- How can you organize space and materials to meet the needs of children with attention
difficulties? Consider furniture arrangement, space and boundaries, room decoration, and how
you introduce and organize materials.Handling Transitions from One Activity to Another
- Children may have difficulty making transitions that occur during the day, such as getting settled
in the morning, or switching from one activity to another. Even changes that most children
would enjoy, such as a field trip to the zoo or a class party, can feel frightening and unsettling to
a child with challenging behaviors.- How can you plan your schedule to meet the needs of children with difficulties handling
transitions? What types of cues can you offer to prepare children with different learning styles
for upcoming changes?Handling Transitions from One Adult to Another
- Children may have difficulty making transitions not only from one activity to another, but from
one adult to another. Adults are not interchangeable: children may find it upsetting when new
specialists, volunteers, or substitute teachers come into the classroom.- In what ways can you place a special emphasis on predictable patterns of staff behavior and
routines? For example, how could you help incoming visitors (parents, specialists, etc.)
understand the ground rules and the daily routine of the classroom? How can you prepare
children ahead of time for new faces?*Adapted with permission from J. P. Brady and S. Grollman, Education Development Center, Inc. 1994. Risk and Reality: Teaching Preschool Children Affected by Substance Abuse. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.