Triggers for Children’s Difficult Behaviors

When thinking about a child’s difficult behaviors, it is helpful to think about the different triggers for these behaviors. A child’s behavior can be impacted or driven by their

• developmental stage
• the environment
• their personality or temperament
• bigger feelings and unmet social-emotional needs

Handout #15 Understanding Children’s Behavior below shows the most common triggers. A detailed explanation of this handout follows beneath the handout.