THE SIX (6) TYPES OF CHALLENGING KIDS PART THREE – THE DEBATER

"Behaviour is our best effort at any given time and situation with the skills we have to obtain what we want"

THE SIX (6) TYPES OF CHALLENGING KIDS

PART THREE – THE DEBATER

There are six easily identifiable personas that children with challenging behaviour fit into according to Clinical Psychologist Andrew Fuller.

They are:          Manipulators

                        Negotiators

                        Debaters

                        Competitors

                        Dare Devils

                        Passive Resisters

The Debater (Margaret Thatcher, Jerry Springer, JFK): are characterised by the ‘what about me’ syndrome, they want to hold everyone else accountable. They have an overdeveloped sense of justice, fairness and balance of right and wrong. They are very determined and verbal kids and this is a deadly combination.

Debaters are energetic and driven for their cause. Unfortunately they need to learn a variety of sills for social interaction and often are not tuned into their own emotions. They can often suffer from a sense of insecurity as to whether they are good enough or loveable enough.

As Debaters are very verbal children that can tie you up in conversation and never-ending debate particularly relating to the fairness or unfairness of a situation  it is important that you commit to not debating them foe long periods of time. Instead respond with affection. Deal with their hurt feelings and offer understanding rather than pity, and place importance on setting up situations and opportunities where they can experience success.

Finally, set up a special time each week for these kids with a definite start and finish where they know that the time belongs to them and they will not have to struggle and complain to maintain your attention. They are on a basic level ‘attention seekers’.