Bad Behavior Being Copied

[Auntie]

I have a child in my room (preschool daycare class) who will walk by and shove another child for no reason, who will hit other kids with toys. We do remove the child away from others at that time and let him know that he can not be around his friends when he is hitting them or shoving them. And we have him go to the table to play with something we choose (we have to redirect no time out) This child gets mad, tells us we are stupid, or he hates us. He will kick over the child sized chairs or shove them to the floor while screaming he hates us.
We do carry through, no open threats. The more we stick to our guns so to speak the more mad he gets. (as he is really mad himself). We have even made mention when we see it when this child is playing well with others.

I don't even think terming this child is an option. I am in a center.

When this child is absent other children will repeat this behavior.

When they are talked to about their behavior or when mom asks them why they behaved that way they say well so and so does it.

Do you think these children do this repeat behavior to get attention?
Is it wanting more one on one with the teacher?
Is it something we can do as his teachers to change something in the classroom?

[Cat Herder]

The perk of working for a center was that I could send the child to the director for consistent behavior like that.

The director would then have to deal with the child and parents allowing me to care for the rest of the group.

Does it not work that way where you are???

That is part of the directors job title, IMHO.

You should not have to deal with that....

[Auntie]

She also works as a teacher in another room so we have to deal with it.

She has taken him to her room before. However, I feel that is the same type of thing as telling your own kids wait until your father gets home. LOL

[Cat Herder]

She also works as a teacher in another room so we have to deal with it.

She has taken him to her room before. However, I feel that is the same type of thing as telling your own kids wait until your father gets home. LOL

I see. I just thought Pre-School and Daycare were two different things.

They are here, so I was speaking to that....

[SimpleMom]

about seven years ago I worked in a center and had a child JUST like that. Could've written it myself Lots of anger and no skills to handle it. Directors wouldn't take them. They said it was our job and ridiculed us if we attempted to hand them over so-to-speak. It was really hard.

Best thing that worked was that they had to sit at the table. We gave them a book to look at (didn't count as a "seperation"), but they got the idea. NO undue attention at that time. If they got up, we simply placed them back at the table and didn't speak. Went back to the group and showed the group of children behaving well that they were rewarded for their good behavior and showed the other one that bad behavior would not be responded to. They got praise EVERYTIME they behaved well to reinforce that behavior and after a time, it worked. (They also just grew older--).

It's a tough one. I"m sorry you're having to deal with it It can be so stressfull for the whole classroom

[Auntie]

I guess we will just contiue to put the child at a table with a book. Hopefully it will get better makes things tough.

The copy cat behavior is what is getting to me now.

[Michael]

Here is a similar thread: https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28980