Children with behavioral problems often have trouble playing peacefully with others. These types of behaviors can include hitting, name-calling and throwing toys. Set a specific goal according to the individual needs of your child or student. You might set a target of playing nicely for 30 minutes after lunch. If the child succeeds in reaching the goal, reward him with extra playtime, as long as he knows that he will lose playing privileges if he acts out.
Children sometimes act out by disturbing other students in a classroom during a quiet work time. Explain to the child that she must let others work in silence, and set a goal of getting through a period of school without disturbing others. Let her know that if she does not meet the goal, she will be isolated from other students. If she succeeds, reward her and let her stay with the rest of the class.
Children sometimes act out because they do not know how to deal constructively with a hostile situation. Let a child with behavioral problems know that if another child does something they don't like, they must tell a parent or teacher, rather than engaging in a fight. Set a goal of talking to an adult the next time something happens that the child does not like. Praise the child if he deals with the problem properly.
In a classroom setting, children with behavioral problems are not always good at listening quietly and doing what they are supposed to do. Set a goal for a child of not talking when a teacher is speaking and raising a hand to ask a question. Reward a child if she makes it through one set of instructions silently by allowing her to ask the first question the next time you are speaking.