Do you have any advice for working with child with behavior problems?

I work with a child who kicks and hits and is very violent do you have any advice of how to explain and get points across of why not to be violent? He is 9.Do you have any advice for working with child with behavior problems?
Does he have recognized behavioural disorder, such as ADHD/ADD, ODD etc, and is there a IEP in place?





Dealing with violent behaviour regardless of behavioural disorder being present or not, can be difficult, but if everyone who deals with the student is clear in the do's and don'ts of how to manage them, can help heaps.





Children can have number of reasons for being disruptive such as, problems at home, problems at school or in the classroom, physical, cognitive/developmental or mental health problems etc.








Students needs to have clear boundaries, of rules and of what is expected of them, and what the consequences for bad behaviours are going to be.


This could be a classroom discussion and or activity, so everyone in the classroom is aware of rules etc, and what the consequences are. Where they set the rules (with guidance), such as no yelling, no hitting, kicking etc.





Let students know what is happening for the day, when and where, this can help prevent behavioural out bursts, especially if they have a recognized disorder.





Routine, children like a set routine, it can make them feel safe, hence giving information about what is going to happen is vital.





Have set times for each activity, 15-20 minutes is ideal, as kids will start to fidget.





Praise good behaviour, how ever small it maybe, even if he has been naughty through out the day, make him feel good before he leaves at the end of the day, e.g ';Timmy I was very pleased, you completed your reading today';, hopefully he will go home happy, and come back happy, and willing to repeat the good behaviours.





Try not to focus on bad behaviour, rather direct and divert the students attention to do something else. However if he is being physical, talk to him calmly and remove him from the classroom, and isolate him in a quite area away from other students.





This allows for him to calm down, then listen to what he has to say, acknowledge his thoughts and feelings.





Make sure he knows that you don't like it when he kicks, hits etc, as it makes you and other people sad.





Be fair and CONSISTENT, in managing him and other students, and when you say that you鈥檙e going to do something, follow through with it. Kids hate it when we say we are going to do something and then we don't follow through with it.





Watch for signs of building stress such as hair twirling, picking at his clothes, excessive fidgeting, grunting etc, as these can be a precursor to an out burst.





If he has a recognized disorder, then ask his parents/carers what his likes and dislikes are, does he have any behaviours that indicate he is becoming stressed, such those list above. Knowing these can mean the difference managing his out bursts.





Edit;


I have over 15 years experience in working with students with disabilities and I am a qualified Disability %26amp; Youth support worker and a teacher.


The reason you remove a student who is acting out is TO PROTECT OTHER STUDENTS.





Yes the child may want to get out of the classroom, but the WELFARE of other students and staff come first, especially when a child is being violent.Do you have any advice for working with child with behavior problems?
Children who are displaying bad behaviour is disruptive to the other students and the teacher, and being violent towards anyone is a very good reason for removing a child from the classroom. The child may well be trying to get out of doing something, but having the child yelling and hitting his teachers aide, teacher and other students is not acceptable. As Georgie suggested look for signs of building stress, and direct and divert the child attention before they misbehave, and having clear guidelines is extremely important. And when the child has calmed down, find out what the child is thinking and feeling.
Demonstrate as best as possible how calm, slow and clear communication is the best way to get your point across.


How they should ask other people for help when needed, and that disruptive behavior makes people offended and less willing to help.





You should use any communication method possible, which may include pictures etc.





Show them how to get other people to help them, and how to talk about the problems instead of using force to do it.





Show them that politeness gets things more effectively and why.





CREED
That long-winded response is filled with misinformation... Why would you remove the student to a calm or alternate area when he acts up? Suppose he is acting up in order to get out of the classroom or to stop doing work? THEN, you are reinforcing the behavior, and it will persist.





You need to find out the function or reason WHY he is engaging in those behaviors (attention? escape/avoidance? gain access to something tangible?, sensory?). Only when you find out why they are engaging in certain behaviors can you start to implement appropriate treatment.





For example, first take some data or pay attention when the student is engaging in those behaviors. Isolate the incident and see what is happening immediately prior to and after the behavior. Is he getting out of work? Is he getting what he wants? Is he getting more attention (students or staff)?





If, for example, he is engaging in ';hitting'; to get you're attention, you may want to extinguish or ignore the behavior, and reinforce him with your attention when he is engaging in the behavior you want him to. If you give him 1 to 1 attention every time he is bad, then he will probably continue to maintain the behaviors...





Main point... find out WHY is doing the behaviors or what is reinforcing them... then apply treatment.
how well does he communicate?


PECS - picture exchange communication system


is a great way to teach kids who don;t communicate well.


I work in a school with children who do what you have described this child does, I would also suggest sticking to a set routine without change, short bursts at different activities works well I find. :)
I would read the following article on ';How to Stop Aggressive Behavior in Young Children';





http://www.empoweringparents.com/How-to-Stop-Aggressive-Behavior-in-Young-Children.php
I do, but you don't want to hear it. there should alway be consequences for bad actions~~ if not, its the wrong path.