Strategies To Help You Decrease Defiant Behavior

There are dozens and dozens of strategies to help decrease and de-escalate defiant behaviors. Here are my top 10 favorites, for supporting students who exhibit mild – moderately defiant behaviors.

De-Escalation Strategies For Teachers To Use With Students

1. Stay or Get Calm

2. Use a Low or Neutral Voice

3. Validate The Student’s Feelings

4. Listen Without Judgement

5. Show Empathy

6. Encourage a Break or a Calming Strategy That Has Been Pre-Taught And Practiced

7. Give “Planned” Choices {Plan ahead so that you only give choices that you can/will accept}

8. Ignore Minor Behaviors

9. Give Clear Instructions Using Few Words

10. Recognize And Praise Desired Behaviors {as soon as possible}

*Keep the teacher poster: De-Escalation Strategies, handy for you to review, on a daily basis and when your student(s) are engaging in defiant behaviors

Here Are My Top 10 Calm Down Strategies, For Kids

1. Take Slow, Deep Breaths

2. Count To 10, Forwards And Backwards

3. State Your Feelings

4. Take A Short Break

5. Think Positive Thoughts

6. Change Your Environment {with permission-go for a walk or move to another part of the room}

7. Think About What You Need {and then tell an adult}

8. Accept Help

9. Think About Consequences “If_____/Then______”

10. Think About What Size The Problem Really Is

*It is important to pre-teach these strategies and practice them often, when the student is calm. This will help the student to be able to access the strategies when they are upset.