ChangE YOUR LENSES
School professionals can assist children in care by shifting their perspective and viewing behavior as communication.
Ford & Courtois (2013) suggest, "conceptualizing emotional and behavioral dysregulation as stress- and trauma-related responses...rather than as willful misbehavior."
When we do this we can look more closely at when and why a behavior happens, rather than focusing only on what the behavior looks like.
Here are some examples.
The behavior of children in care is sending a different message than you think. Hover over each box to see the hidden meaning under their words and actions.
When I say things like
"I hate you!"
or
"Leave me alone!"
I mean:
"I'm not sure if I can trust you."
or
"I don't know if I should let you in."
When I run
from the classroom,
the principal's office, or the building
I mean:
"I don't feel safe here"
or
"I'm not sure if you care about me."
When I
kick and hit
or
throw
or
break
things
I mean:
"I feel powerless."
or
"All of my choices have been taken away."
When I am
unkind,
disrespectful,
or
mean to you
I mean:
"I know you are going to let me down too,
just like all the other adults in my life.
So, I can't afford to give you a chance."