However, districts are required to consider alternative methods to ensure that preschoolers with disabilities receive their educational programming in the least restrictive environment. Developing options which provide opportunities for interaction between preschoolers with disabilities and their nondisabled peers, even part-time, will assist LEAs in addressing this requirement for three and four year olds. Many young children engage in challenging behavior in the course of early development. The majority of these children respond to developmentally appropriate management techniques. Every parent, including parents of young children with disabilities, wants his or her child to attend schools, child care centers, or community-based programs that are nurturing and safe.
Many young children engage in challenging behavior at various times during their early development.
Typically, this behavior is short-term and decreases with age and use of appropriate guidance strategies. However, for some children these incidences of challenging behavior may become more consistent despite increased adult vigilance and use of appropriate guidance strategies. Additional intervention efforts my be required for these children. DEC believes strongly that many types of services and intervention strategies are available to address challenging behavior. Given the developmental nature of most challenging behavior, we believe there is a vast array of supplemental services that can be added to the home and education environment to increase the likelihood that children will learn appropriate behavior.