Nursery World - Positive Relationships: Observing behaviour

ABC charts are an excellent means of tracking and evaluating children's behaviour, explain Rachel Lo and Ann Henderson in their new book, The Social Child. All children attending early years settings experience occasions when they may lack the appropriate emotional, social or behavioural skills needed to ensure that their needs are met. During these times, when communication is limited and children find it difficult to express what they want/need/are thinking/are feeling, children's behaviour may be such that it impacts on the well-being of the child and the other children/adults around them.

On these occasions children need assistance from those more skilled, usually adults/practitioners, to determine the best course of action for the child and those around them. It can be unclear how early years practitioners can help in ways that will best meet the child's needs, and an ABC chart can be a useful tool.

ABC behaviour charts help practitioners to monitor where children may be struggling and concerning behaviour is being exhibited. For example, a child might always be finding it difficult to control their temper in the afternoon, but not after having a nap. The child's key person can then adjust the child's schedule accordingly to make nap time earlier.

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