01/09/2026
Connection before correction. Does the child feel safe and stress-free? Ensure that the expectations are not above their abilities.
Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do for a child is pause and really see them. Behaviour is often the language of stress, fear, and unmet needs. When a child feels unsafe, overwhelmed, or pushed beyond their current skills, their nervous system goes into survival mode. Learning, self-control, and calm thinking simply are not available then.
Children do well when they can. When they cannot, it is usually because something around them is making things feel too hard. Sensory overload, big emotions, inconsistent adult responses, or a lack of connection can all show up as behaviour that looks challenging on the surface. Underneath, it is a child asking for help.
Repeated behaviour is not defiance. It is information. It tells us what is not working yet. Changing the environment is not giving in. It is choosing understanding, safety, and growth. And connection before correction is often where real change begins.
Behaviour changes when children feel safe, supported, and understood.
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