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“I behave like this because I trust you”: Responding to Extreme Behaviours in Children

When children show extreme behaviours like aggression, refusal, or emotional meltdowns, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and wonder what you're doing wrong. The truth is, these behaviours are communication – they're telling you about unmet needs, triggers, and feelings the child can't yet express. You need practical strategies to understand what's really happening and respond in ways that actually work.

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Who is this course for?

This course is for anyone working directly with children who display challenging behaviours – teachers, teaching assistants, early years practitioners, pastoral staff, and support workers in schools, nurseries, or community settings. You might be dealing with regular meltdowns, aggressive outbursts, or children who seem to ‘kick off’ without warning, leaving you feeling stressed and uncertain about how to help. Whether you’re new to working with challenging behaviour or experienced but looking for fresh approaches, this course will give you the understanding and tools you need. This isn’t an academic theory course – it’s practical, evidence-based guidance you can use immediately in your setting.

What you’ll learn

Identify the underlying needs driving challenging behaviours using the EATS framework (Escape, Attachment, Tangible, Sensory)
Use observation and recording techniques to spot patterns and triggers in children’s behaviour incidents
Apply de-escalation strategies in the moment, adapting your communication, body language and actions to reduce crisis situations
Implement universal classroom strategies to keep children regulated and reduce the likelihood of extreme behaviours occurring
Conduct effective post-incident repair conversations that rebuild relationships and involve children in problem-solving
Recognise the stages of behavioural incidents and adapt your response appropriately from baseline through build-up, crisis and recovery