Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.
– J.M. Barrie (1860 – 1937), Scottish novelist, playwright

A recent article by Ariel Gilreath on the Hechinger Report website is called, “Young children misbehave. Some are suspended for acting their age.”

Gilreath writes: “Suspension can be particularly damaging when doled out to younger students, said Iheoma Iruka, a professor of public policy at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Being kicked out of the classroom can fracture kids’ trust in their teachers and the institution early on. Those early impressions can stay with students and cause long-lasting harm, Iruka said, particularly to students for whom school is the most consistent part of their lives…

“Misbehavior at any age is often a symptom of deeper issues, experts say, but young children, especially, struggle to identify those issues and communicate them effectively.”

In the Exchange Essentials article collection, “Children with Challenging Behaviors 3,” one of the articles is called “10 Ways to Increase Positive Behavior in Early Care and Education Centers,” by Angela Percival-Porter. Here is just one of the suggestions the author offers:

“Use Healthy Touch. Touch is not a want, it is a need. It is an interaction that shows respect and is required for proper physical and brain development. It is critical for social/emotional development and it stimulates all the systems of the body and releases hormones that reduce stress. When we reduce stress, we will experience happier, better behaved children and happier teachers. Incorporate healthy touch throughout the day.”