Positive Behavior Support, Episode 4: Problems as Opportunities

For materials on this topic in English, Spanish, and Somali

Season 2, Episode 4: Problems as Opportunities—Teaching Problem-Solving and Friendship Skills

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Children who have strong friendships and can work through social problems in productive ways are more likely to establish long-term healthy relationships and have greater success in school. Episode 4 explores the many ways that you can foster friendships and teach children the skills needed to work through conflict and, as a result, significantly reduce challenging behavior in your early learning environment.

Watch now: Episode 4, Problems as Opportunities: Teaching Problem-Solving and Friendship Skills!

Each Circle Time Magazine episode includes an educational video delivered in a talk show format. Join us for Episode 4 to learn more about helping children build their problem-solving and friendship skills.

Download your copy: Edition 4, Teaching Problem-Solving and Friendship Skills!

Circle Time Magazine Season 2, Episode 4, print version

To learn more about Positive Behavior Support (PBS) along with ways to foster strong relationships between children and give them the skills they need to work through conflict and solve problems, download the print version or view the magazine online.

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Free Tips and Visual Supports

Video and Print Magazine Resources

Download these free visual supports for using in your learning environment to promote positive behavior and developmental growth.

Post these visuals in your learning environment to help children learn to regulate their emotions, solve problems, and build healthy friendships. Try gathering sets of materials in the form of a Friendship Kit or Solutions Kit for children to use and share with one another as needed. Or, clip sets of visuals to a binder ring and carry them with you for immediate reference in a moment of conflict.

Conflicts and Your Child

PDF: Share this tip sheet with families who want to help their children prepare for and work through problems.

Steps for Problem Solving In The Moment

PDF: Post this in your learning environment as a visual reminder of the steps for supporting problem solving in the moment.

Problem Solving Steps

PDF: Post this in your learning environment as a visual reminder of the four problem solving steps.

Dive into Books...

...with this book list to help children build social and emotional skills

Bilingual Book Recommendations:

Gossie and Gertie by Olivia Dunrea (Bilingual: Gansi y Gertie por Olivia Dunrea)
Elephant and Piggie (series) by Mo Willems (Spanish: Elephant & Piggie (series) por Mo Willems)
The Little Red Fort by Brenda Maier and Sonia Sanchez (Spanish: El Fuertecito Rojo por Brenda Maier y Sonia Sanchez)
We’re All Wonders by R.J. Palacio (Spanish: Todos Somos Únicos por R.J. Palacio)

Book Recommendations:

Fox Makes Friends by Adam Relf
Join In and Play by Cheri Meiners
Talk and Work It Out by Cheri Meiners
Blocks by Irene Dickson
Giraffe Meets Bird by Rebecca Bender
The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
ABC for You and Me by Meg Girnis
A Tale of Two Mommies by Vanita Oelschlager
Jacob’s New Dress by Sarah Hoffman and Ian Hoffman
Mommy’s Khimar by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

Helpful Resources—Episode 4: Teaching Problem-Solving and Friendship Skills

Go Deeper...

with this collection of additional reading on the main topics of each episode.

See more resources

Problem Solving in The Moment

Multimedia: Use this professional development resource to learn how to help children resolve social problems as they arise in the moment. The package includes a highlight video, PowerPoint presentation with video exemplars, presenter notes, and handouts that highlight practices to support problem solving.

Helping Young Children Control Anger and Handle Disappointment

PDF: Before problem-solving skills can be implemented, children must first be able to control their anger and impulses when faced with disappointment or frustration. Read this article for teaching strategies—such as the turtle technique—that can help children learn to self-calm and modify unproductive thoughts.

Promoting Positive Peer Social Interactions

PDF: In this brief, read about some critical skills that children can learn to initiate positive interactions with peers, and ways to teach children these skills so that they can build social relationships.

You’ve Got to Have Friends

PDF: Read this article to learn what behaviors are more likely to lead to friendship, how to arrange a supportive environment that sets the stage for friendship, and strategies for children who need more systematic teaching to develop friendship skills.

Try these Learning Activities...

and improve your practice by engaging in these activities designed to help you put your knowledge into practice.

See more resources

Learning Activity: Anticipating Problem Situations

PDF: Use this activity to practice anticipating potentially problematic situations that may arise in your early learning environment.

Learning Activity: Brainstorming Multiple Solutions

PDF: Use these photos to identify potential problems and practice brainstorming multiple solutions.

Embedding Friendship Activities into Daily Schedules

PDF: Use this template to think about your daily schedule and brainstorm ways to embed friendship-building activities into each activity or routine. See the article You’ve got to have friends for more ideas.

See it in Action...

with these video exemplars that showcase the concepts discussed in the show and magazine, in practice.

See more resources

Problem Solving Free Choice

Video: In this video two children want to play with the same toy. See how the educator uses the timer as a self-regulation and problem-solving aid with a child who is struggling to wait for his turn. Notice also how he initiates using the timer to regulate his own emotions in anticipation of an upcoming transition.

Problem Solving Outdoors

Video: Watch this teacher support problem solving in the moment with two children who are having a conflict. She is close by, offers support by encouraging the children to name and share their feelings with each other, encourages them to come up with a solution, and celebrates their solution. Then, as an additional solution, she gives them the words to communicate how they want to be treated.

Problem Solving: Solution Kit

Video: See an expert teacher in action as she notices conflict between two children, helps them define the problem, encourages them to come up with some solutions using the class Solutions Basket, and celebrates their ultimate success.

Reflect on Bias and Behavior...

with these resources to increase your self-awareness and address unconscious biases that are likely to be impacting children in your program.

See more resources

Framework for Anti-Bias Teaching

Webpage: Children’s comments and actions related to stereotypes or human differences can sometimes fluster or paralyze educators. This framework can be used as a guide for establishing an anti-bias learning environment and, more specifically, for anti-bias planning and practice.

Culturally Appropriate Positive Guidance with Young Children

Webpage: Check out this article for ways that educators can examine their own cultural assumptions and biases, create a program that is accommodating to their families’ unique cultural norms, and establish a safe community where positive guidance is offered by creating space for children to give each other direct feedback.

Building Strong Foundations: Racial Inequity in Policies that Impact Infants, Toddlers, and Families.

PDF: This brief, published by ZERO TO THREE and CLASP, addresses policies that prevent racial equity and their negative impact on young children, families, and surrounding communities.

TRANSLATION NOTE: Please be aware that there might be slight discrepancies and minor differences between the posted, printed, or electronic text in English and the corresponding Spanish translation, due to the editing and updating of the different versions.

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Positive Behavior Support, Episode 4: Problems as Opportunities

Season 2, Episode 4: Problems as Opportunities—Teaching Problem-Solving and Friendship Skills

Season 2, Episode 4: Problems as Opportunities—Teaching Problem-Solving and Friendship Skills

Watch now: Episode 4, Problems as Opportunities: Teaching Problem-Solving and Friendship Skills!

Download your copy: Edition 4, Teaching Problem-Solving and Friendship Skills!

Video and Print Magazine Resources

Conflicts and Your Child

Steps for Problem Solving In The Moment

Problem Solving Steps

Dive into Books...

...with this book list to help children build social and emotional skills

Helpful Resources—Episode 4: Teaching Problem-Solving and Friendship Skills

Go Deeper...

Problem Solving in The Moment

Helping Young Children Control Anger and Handle Disappointment

Promoting Positive Peer Social Interactions

You’ve Got to Have Friends

Try these Learning Activities...

Learning Activity: Anticipating Problem Situations

Learning Activity: Brainstorming Multiple Solutions

Embedding Friendship Activities into Daily Schedules

See it in Action...

Problem Solving Free Choice

Problem Solving Outdoors

Problem Solving: Solution Kit

Reflect on Bias and Behavior...

Framework for Anti-Bias Teaching

Culturally Appropriate Positive Guidance with Young Children

Building Strong Foundations: Racial Inequity in Policies that Impact Infants, Toddlers, and Families.

Contact Us

Want more of Circle Time Magazine?

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