"Why Won’t These Kids Behave?"

Credit: This photograph is from Corel Print Office, 1998, Corel Corporation.

Why Do Kids Act Up?

Learning how to do a task is only half the battle. Kids must also learn which and when behaviors are appropriate, and when. As a youth leader, you can help kids to learn appropriate actions within the group setting. Click on each of the following to continue with the lesson:

• Dealing with fighting and acting up
  All kids naturally resist rules and act up occasionally. However, some kids may seem to be getting into trouble all the time. These kids need extra help from sensitive and supportive leaders like you to help them overcome some of these problems.

• Common reasons kids act up
  So, why are some kids more likely to get into trouble? This section offers some insights.

• Additional help for other problems youth may have
  Sometimes kids act up because of other underlying disorders, disabilities, or problems. Leaders may mistakenly think that the group member is getting into trouble because he or she is a "bad kid" or rebellious. The young person may, instead, be responding to frustration from a disability or disorder such as depression may not even understand why he or she is always in trouble. Most youth leaders will have to deal with some of these disorders and problems. An awareness of certain disorders and disabilities may make managing these behaviors easier for youth leaders.

Now that you understand more about what causes difficult behaviors, continue with the lesson and learn how these behaviors can be minimized.  Click here to return to Lesson 4 start page.