Behavior Bear was created by Joni Downey, founder of Characters of Character NFP, Inc., to help children understand, internalize, and portray what it means to have good behavior. Behavior Bear helps children relate to the trait associated with the Character by being a visual (similar to their favorite cartoon character.) They begin to learn about the trait through conversations, activities, books, discussions, and art activities. Once there is an understanding and connection between Behavior Bear and the trait of good behavior, children will eventually begin to portray what it means to have good behavior. From there it transitions from mimicking the trait they’ve learned about to understanding and internalizing it so that it becomes second nature to have good behavior in all settings. As the child grows older, they continue to develop the trait even after Behavior Bear as a visual reinforcement begins to fade out.
One of Miss Joni’s favorite stories comes from her experience with a student when she was working as a teaching assistant. There was one student in particular who was really struggling with how to behave. One day this student was having an extremely difficult day. Miss Joni advised him to ‘behave’ and he crawled under his desk.
Miss Joni crawled down on his level to ask what was going on with the student and how she could help this student and he simply replied, ‘teach me!’
In all the years of being a parent herself and all her experience working with children she had never stopped to think that some students may not even know what it means to behave. You can tell a child to ‘behave’ until you are blue in the face, but if the student doesn’t know what that word actually means it would be futile.
This is a great reminder that some behavioral issues may be a simple miscommunication. It is important to clearly communicate what is expected of a child and to explain the rules in different situations. The rules at home may be different than the rules in the store, at school, or in the community.
Behavior Bear In The Classroom
It is important that the rules are clear for what is expected of each student in the classroom. What happens if a student knows the rules and still makes the choices to disobey them? That is a question with a complicated answer.
Here’s what we can share: children tend to lean towards responding to positive reinforcements. There should be a balance of what happens as a consequence for not behaving in the classroom, but why not focus on encouraging good behavior to try and get the students excited so that they want to use good behavior?
One way to encourage good behavior through a positive reinforcement is to surprise the student(s) with a Behavior Bear certificate of Good Behavior. You can print out various designs by clicking the picture to the left or clicking here. These can be used at home, school, the community, and everywhere in between.
Using a positive reinforcement like a certificate not only provides a visual, but it also encourages a child to continue the behavior they are being rewarded for. How fun is it for the child to go home and be able to share they were so well behaved the teacher actually recognized it? This act also helps build the child’s confidence - it’s a win/win!
Just like in school, it is important to set a clear outline of what behavior is expected of a child in the home. Each set of rules will be different as each individual child has a different set of needs.
Regardless of the rules set in place studies have shown that having a routine positively impacts behaviors, participially in children. Having a routine can help reduce anxiety, increase emotional regulation, and can even help lessen tantrums.
If you click here or the image to the right you will find a free clock activity that you can print out. Use this clock to help encourage a routine within your own home. What time is dinner? What time should homework be completed by? When do you brush your teeth?
Not only will having a visual be helpful to your child(ren), but it will also allow you to follow-up and see where your child or children might be struggling. It provides an opportunity for you to check-in and ask: was the task not completed because they are being dismissive or was it not completed because they need help and are afraid to ask?
Take Behavior Bear With You Wherever You Go
Click each individual image below to find our Behavior Bear resources on Amazon. Every purchase helps support our mission of providing a firm foundation for children to develop strong civic values and your support is greatly appreciated!
