Effective Strategies for Addressing Behaviors in Infants and Toddlers

Abstract

Supporting behavioral development in early childhood education settings requires collaboration between caregivers, interventionists, and service providers, as well as strategies tailored to the unique needs of young children. Challenging behaviors in infants and toddlers with special needs, such as biting, hitting, throwing, and pushing, can delay developmental progress and place a strain on both families and Interventionists. These behaviors often emerge during a critical period of growth and learning, making early and targeted intervention essential. The field of special education increasingly recognizes the importance of implementing evidence-based strategies from a child’s birth through age two as tools for improving a child’s long-term outcomes (Fox, Dunlap, Hemmeter, Joseph, & Strain, 2003). Despite the availability of research-backed interventions, families and educators frequently lack access to practical tools that translate theory into everyday practice. This capstone project focused on bridging the gap between research and practice through the development of informative brochures for parents and teachers. The brochures were designed as accessible, user-friendly resources to support behavioral intervention efforts for infants and toddlers in early intervention. The project included a comprehensive literature review that examined effective behavioral supports, function-based interventions, preventative strategies, and the importance of parent-teacher collaboration. The findings from this review guided the creation of materials that promoted structured, early, and collaborative approaches to managing challenging behaviors. The brochures aimed to empower families and educators with evidence-based tools that enhance behavioral outcomes and developmental growth in young children