How to Promote Positive Behaviour in Early Years

Encouraging positive behaviour in early years is essential for children’s overall development. Early experiences shape how children learn to express emotions, interact with others, and build relationships. By promoting kindness, cooperation, and patience, caregivers and educators create an environment where children feel safe, confident, and able to thrive.

This guide provides practical strategies for fostering positive behaviour in early years settings, helping children build the foundations for lifelong success.

What is Positive Behaviour in Early Years?

Positive behaviour among young children involves actions that promote harmony, respect, and cooperation. Examples include sharing toys, waiting patiently, and listening to others. Encouraging this behaviour helps children build emotional resilience, develop positive social skills, and manage conflicts in a healthy way.

Young children are still learning about the world around them and how to respond to their emotions. They may sometimes struggle to express feelings or understand boundaries. This makes it all the more important to guide them gently and consistently.

Positive Role Modelling

Children learn behaviour by watching the adults around them. Caregivers, educators, and family members serve as role models. Demonstrating positive behaviours, such as sharing, apologising, and using kind words, helps children understand expectations.

Adults can model positive behaviour by:

• Speaking calmly, even in stressful situations
• Treating others with respect
• Saying “please” and “thank you”
• Acknowledging mistakes and apologising when necessary

When children see the adults in their lives behaving kindly and respectfully, they are more likely to imitate those behaviours.

Setting Clear Expectations

Young children benefit from clear and consistent boundaries. Setting expectations helps children understand what is acceptable behaviour and what is not. Keep these expectations simple and age-appropriate, so they are easy for children to grasp.

Examples of clear rules in an early years setting might include:

• “Be gentle with our friends.”
• “We use our walking feet inside.”
• “We take turns with toys.”

Repeat these rules often, as repetition helps children remember. Use visual prompts, like pictures or posters, to reinforce messages for pre-verbal or younger children.

Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is one of the most effective ways to encourage good behaviour. Praise and rewards motivate children to repeat positive actions. When you recognise their efforts, it boosts their self-esteem and reinforces the idea that doing good feels good.

Examples of positive reinforcement include:

• Verbal praise, such as “Well done for sharing with your friend!”
• High-fives or hugs (if appropriate)
• Reward systems like sticker charts for older children

Always focus on specific behaviours, rather than using general comments. For example, say, “You tidied up so well!” instead of simply “Good job!”

Creating a Calm, Consistent Environment

Children are more likely to behave positively in a calm and predictable environment. Chaos, noise, and inconsistency can make them feel overwhelmed or unsure of what is expected.

Steps to create a supportive setting include:

• Keeping routines consistent, such as snack time, story time, or outdoor play
• Arranging the physical space in a way that feels safe and organised
• Using visual schedules or timetables for activities to reduce uncertainty
• Managing transitions smoothly, such as giving warnings before changes (“In five minutes, we’ll tidy up and go outside”)

A consistent routine helps children feel secure and encourages cooperation.

Encouraging Communication

Helping children express their feelings and needs reduces frustration and promotes mutual understanding. Many behavioural challenges in early years arise because children lack the ability to communicate effectively.

Tips for supporting communication include:

• Teaching children simple phrases for emotions (e.g., “I feel sad,” “I’m frustrated”)
• Using visual aids or signs for children with limited language
• Actively listening to what they are saying, even if it takes time
• Encouraging polite requests, like saying “Can I have a turn, please?”

The more confident children feel in communicating, the better equipped they are to resolve potential conflicts or express their emotions calmly.

Using Distraction and Redirection

Young children have short attention spans, which caregivers can use to their advantage. If a child is heading toward misbehaviour or showing frustration, redirect their attention to a new activity or toy.

For example:

• If two children are arguing over a toy, invite one to join you in a different activity, such as drawing or reading.
• If a child is getting upset, encourage a calming activity like sensory play or colouring.

Distraction works well because it shifts the focus away from negative behaviours without creating confrontation.

Teaching Problem-Solving Skills

Conflict is inevitable but teaches valuable lessons when managed properly. Children benefit from learning simple problem-solving techniques to handle disputes.

Support them by:

• Prompting them to explain how they feel (“You look upset. Can you tell me what’s wrong?”)
• Encouraging them to find solutions together (“What can we do to make this fair?”)
• Offering suggestions if they struggle (“Maybe you can take turns for two minutes each.”)

Over time, children will start resolving small conflicts independently, reducing the need for adult intervention.

Recognising and Addressing Triggers

Certain situations or environments can lead to challenging behaviours in young children. Identifying these triggers helps prevent issues before they arise.

Common triggers include:

• Hunger or tiredness
• Overstimulation, such as loud noises or crowded play areas
• Frustration with difficult tasks or unclear instructions
• Changes to routine, such as a different caregiver

To address triggers:

• Stick to regular meal and nap times
• Provide quiet spaces where children can retreat and calm down
• Adjust tasks to suit age and ability levels
• Give advance warnings about changes, such as, “Today, Jane will take you to the park instead of Ben.”

Building Emotional Resilience

Helping children manage their emotions is a key part of promoting positive behaviour. Teach them healthy ways to handle anger, disappointment, or anxiety.

Strategies include:

• Encouraging deep breathing exercises (“Take a big breath in and blow it out like you’re blowing a bubble”)
• Naming their emotions (“It looks like you’re angry because someone knocked over your block tower”)
• Providing calming activities, such as sensory bins, playdough, or relaxing music

As they grow, children will become more confident in managing strong feelings without acting out.

Promoting Cooperation and Teamwork

Working together with peers is an important skill in early years. Encourage activities that require cooperation, such as group storytelling, building with blocks, or games.

Highlight moments of teamwork by saying:

• “Look how well you’re all working together to clean up!”
• “You both shared the crayons so nicely—it helps everyone have fun.”

Group activities not only teach cooperation but also help children develop empathy and social awareness.

Involving Families in Behaviour Support

Parents and caregivers play a vital role in promoting positive behaviour. Work closely with families to ensure consistent messaging between home and the early years setting.

Ways to involve families include:

• Sharing behaviour management strategies so they can use them at home
• Providing feedback on their child’s development and progress
• Offering workshops or resources on topics like emotional regulation or positive reinforcement

Consistency between home and school environments helps reinforce positive behaviours more effectively.

Avoiding Punishment-Based Approaches

Punishments, like timeouts or shaming, are less effective for teaching long-term positive behaviour. Instead, focus on understanding the root cause of the behaviour and addressing it gently.

Key points to keep in mind:

• Behaviour is a form of communication. Ask, “What is the child trying to tell me?” rather than reacting negatively.
• Avoid using threats or shouting. These can create fear rather than teaching appropriate actions.
• Always stay calm and remind the child of your expectations in a kind, firm way.

Children need guidance and patience as they grow and learn.

Recording Behaviour Patterns

Keeping a record of behaviours helps identify patterns or triggers.

Document details such as:

• The time and place of incidents
• What happened before, during, and after the behaviour
• The child’s emotional state

This information helps develop tailored strategies to prevent issues and encourage positive behaviours.

Supporting Staff Development

Early years staff play a critical role in shaping behaviour. Regular training can equip them with effective behaviour management techniques. This builds confidence and ensures a consistent approach across the team.

Training topics might include:

• Strategies for managing challenging behaviour
• Emotional literacy and supporting children’s wellbeing
• Communication techniques suited to different developmental stages

The more knowledgeable and supported staff feel, the better outcomes they can achieve.

Final Thoughts

Promoting positive behaviour in early years settings is a combination of kindness, guidance, and creating a supportive environment. By teaching skills like communication, cooperation, and resilience, adults help children navigate day-to-day challenges and develop the foundations for healthy social and emotional growth.