{"alias":"contentPage","byline":null,"standfirst":null,"content":{"layouts":[{"type":"sidebar","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EAs Scouts, we\u2019re guided by our values and we\u2019re committed to creating a positive experience for everyone. This guidance gives some points to think about to support volunteers with promoting positive behaviour.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EThink about reasons for the behaviour\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMost children and young people will behave in challenging ways at some point. Feeling upset,\u202Fangry, stressed or disappointed is a normal part of life. Because we develop our ability to manage our emotions as we grow up, children and young people do sometimes act out when they\u2019re going through big feelings. In response to their emotions, they may display a range of behaviours.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003EConsider everyone\u2019s needs\u00A0\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESome behaviours may be linked to medical conditions, disabilities or additional needs. Take a look at our guidance for\u202F\u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/equity-diversity-and-inclusion/including-disabled-and-neurodivergent-people/\u0022 title=\u0022Supporting people with additional needs\u0022\u003Esupporting those with additional needs\u003C/a\u003E and neurodiversity.\u202FThere\u2019s also advice on \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/equity-diversity-and-inclusion/including-disabled-and-neurodivergent-people/making-reasonable-adjustments/\u0022 title=\u0022Agreeing adjustments\u0022\u003Ehow to\u202Fmake reasonable adjustments\u003C/a\u003E\u202Fto meet young peoples\u2019 needs.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere may be factors from outside the section meetings that impact on the behaviour of a young person in a group eg\u202Fbullying,\u202Ffamily and social situations or issues that are personal to them that they may not have shared with you. Try to remember that the behaviour you see on the surface is probably not the whole story. Take a look at our \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/supporting-young-people/\u0022 title=\u0022Supporting young people\u0022\u003Eguidance on supporting young people\u003C/a\u003E. If you\u2019re worried about a child or young person, follow the Safeguarding Code of Conduct for Adults (\u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/safe-scouting-cards/safeguarding-code-of-conduct-for-adults-yellow-card/\u0022 title=\u0022Young People First - Yellow Card\u0022\u003EYellow Card\u003C/a\u003E).\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003EConsider the programme\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESome challenging behaviour can be a result of boredom or inactivity, or on the other hand too much energetic activity, so the way you plan the programme can have a big impact on behaviour. Run a balanced programme, including games and activities to support the development of co-operation and teamwork. Manage unstructured time so that young people always have something to do. You can use our \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/running-your-section/planning-your-programme/programme-development-toolkit/\u0022 title=\u0022Programme development toolkit\u0022\u003Eprogramme development toolkit\u003C/a\u003E to assess your programme and get support.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EThink about communication\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EEffective communication is the key to promoting positive interactions and behaviour, supporting children and young people to build self-esteem and confidence and fostering positive relationships.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003ECommunication with the child or young person\u0026nbsp;\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf you\u2019re worried about a child or young person\u2019s behaviour, talk to them about it clearly and calmly. Be clear that the behaviour is the problem, not them or their feelings. Try to understand if there are things that trigger certain behaviours which are challenging. \u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EModel positive language behaviour for young people which are in line with our Scout values. Always follow the \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/safe-scouting-cards/safeguarding-code-of-conduct-for-adults-yellow-card/\u0022 title=\u0022Young People First - Yellow Card\u0022\u003EYellow Card\u003C/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003ECommunication with parents and carers\u0026nbsp;\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETalk to parents and carers about their child or young person\u2019s behaviour. There may be strategies they use at home which could be effective in Scouts, or a behaviour plan used at school, which you can refer to. Where a child or young person has additional needs, it\u2019s important to\u202F\u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/equity-diversity-and-inclusion/including-disabled-and-neurodivergent-people/building-partnerships-with-parents-and-carers/\u0022 title=\u0022Working in partnership with Parents and Carers\u0022\u003Ework with the parent or carers\u003C/a\u003E\u202Fto develop a positive relationship and plan appropriate support strategies.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EKeep in touch with parents and carers and talk about how things are going. Be open about any concerns and agree a plan together.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003ECommunication within the section\u0026nbsp;\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EEstablish good routines for meetings and set expectations of what is required from young people. Use signals so that you don\u2019t need to use your voice all the time. For example, a hand in the air means \u201Cstop talking and pay attention\u201D. Give notice when an activity is about to begin or end by counting down from five to zero. Keep explanations short and clear.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EActively involve young people in creating a code of conduct for the section. They\u2019re more likely to stick to something they have been involved in creating. Display it clearly and re-visit it regularly. Refer to it positively, when giving praise and recognition, as well as when giving prompts or reminders about expected behaviours.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDiscuss appropriate behaviour before events such as nights away and trips, where there may be additional boundaries needed. \u0026nbsp;Read our \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/safeguarding-in-the-programme/nights-away-and-safeguarding/\u0022 title=\u0022Nights away and safeguarding\u0022\u003Eguidance on nights away and safeguarding\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003EPraise and recognition\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere are lots of ways you can recognise achievement. Points systems, certificates, Scout of the month, and simply saying \u2018well done\u2019 and \u2018thank you\u2019, can all be used effectively to promote positive behaviour.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EThink about support\u0026nbsp;\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EVolunteers working together and showing consistency is a good foundation for promoting positive behaviour in young people. You can get further support with promoting positive behaviour from your line manager, Group Lead Volunteer, District Inclusion Team, or the \u003Ca href=\u0022/contact-us/\u0022 title=\u0022Contact us\u0022\u003EScouts Support Centre\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Promo","cta":"Learn more about risk assessments","body":"\u003Cp\u003ERead our guidance on managing and assessing risk.\u003C/p\u003E","link":{"name":"Risk assessments","id":null,"url":"/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/risk-assessments/","newWindow":false,"target":null},"colour":"#ffe627","title":"Risk assessments","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"type":"Promo","cta":"Read our anti-bullying guidance","body":"\u003Cp\u003EOur anti-bullying guide helps you address bullying and take steps to reduce the chances of it happening in your group or section.\u003C/p\u003E","link":{"name":"Anti-bullying","id":null,"url":"/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/supporting-young-people/anti-bullying/","newWindow":false,"target":null},"colour":"#ffe627","title":"Anti-bullying","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"type":"Image top","cta":"Learn more about disability inclusion","body":"\u003Cp\u003EFind out how to support members with additional needs.\u003C/p\u003E","link":{"name":"Supporting people with additional needs","id":null,"url":"/volunteers/equity-diversity-and-inclusion/including-disabled-and-neurodivergent-people/","newWindow":false,"target":null},"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"Supporting people with additional needs","image":"/media/20187/a-leader-playing-a-game-and-chasing-some-beavers-on-a-field-with-her-arms-open-wide.jpg?cc=0,0.01576007004790667,0,0.14055019350469672\u0026width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daee45b5661050","imageFocus":"","imageId":36346,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":"Find out how to support with children and young people\u2019s behaviour","pageType":null,"location":null,"browserTitle":"","versionDate":"15 July 2023","reviewDate":"01/01/0001","redirectUrl":"","id":47575,"nodeName":"Promoting positive behaviour","title":"Promoting positive behaviour","type":"contentPage","image":{"url":"/media/12276/volunteer-in-helmet-jpg.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1daecc2f7f637d0","caption":"Scout Adventures volunteer in helmet","type":"jpg","size":4800372,"width":3000,"height":2250,"altText":"A volunteer from Scout Adventures stands in the middle of a circle of young people in orange helmets."},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Promoting positive behaviour","headerSubTitle":"Find out how to support with children and young people\u2019s behaviour","headerCta":"","headerCtaText":"","headerCtaLink":"","headerBackgroundColour":"ffe627","showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":[{"caption":"","title":"Yellow card","url":"/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/safe-scouting-cards/safeguarding-code-of-conduct-for-adults-yellow-card/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"Report a safeguarding concern","url":"/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/reporting-a-concern-to-safeguarding/","newWindow":false}]},"subHeader":"Find out how to support with children and young people\u2019s behaviour","silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80NzU3NSJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/safeguarding-in-the-programme/promoting-positive-behaviour/"}