Reducing Challenging Behaviours Without Increasing Staff Burnout

March 5, 2026

Supporting Inclusion Without Losing Your Team

Inclusion needs in childcare programs are rising—and so is staff stress. Many centres are working hard to support children with more complex needs while also trying to protect educator wellbeing and prevent burnout.

In this ChildFriendly Lunch & Learn, we explore practical strategies childcare operators and leaders can use to reduce challenging behaviours without adding more pressure to their teams.

Rather than focusing only on responding to behaviours after they escalate, this session emphasizes proactive approaches that support children while strengthening staff confidence and capacity.

What You’ll Learn

In this session, we cover practical, real-world strategies that childcare leaders can apply immediately in their centres, including:

  • How to reframe behaviour as communication to better understand what children are expressing
  • Simple environment adjustments that reduce escalation before it begins
  • Ready-to-use staff scripts for calm and confident de-escalation
  • Documentation practices that protect your centre while supporting inclusive care
  • Strategies to strengthen educator confidence and reduce team burnout

These tools are designed to help programs support high-needs children while maintaining a healthy, sustainable work environment for staff.

Helpful Resources

To help you apply the ideas discussed in this session, we’ve put together a few additional resources for childcare leaders:

Download the Behaviour Support Resources
Access practical tools, scripts, and guides you can use with your team to support inclusive environments and reduce escalation in the classroom.

About ChildFriendly Lunch & Learns

ChildFriendly Lunch & Learns are designed specifically for childcare operators and leaders who want practical guidance on running strong, sustainable programs.

Each session focuses on real operational challenges—from staffing and behaviour support to funding, documentation, and program quality.

If you’d like to join future sessions, sign up for the next one here.

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