Understanding Challenging Behaviors: What’s Behind the Behavior? by Susan Lewis, M.Ed.

What if we stopped labeling children as "challenging" and started asking deeper questions about what they’re trying to tell us?

In this eye-opening and reflective session, Susan Lewis, M.Ed.—a former preschool special education teacher and the Founder & CEO of Early Childhood Education Professional Development (ECEPD)—invites educators and leaders to rethink how we understand and respond to children’s behavior. With over two decades of experience as a classroom teacher, program leader, coach, and mentor at both state and university levels, Susan brings real-world insight and practical strategies grounded in empathy, connection, and equity.

You'll explore how behavior is a form of communication—especially for young children who are still learning to manage big feelings and express their needs. Through a lens of curiosity rather than compliance, this session will help you identify your own emotional triggers, understand common behavioral patterns, and adopt proactive, compassionate tools for supporting children and yourself.

This session is perfect for teachers, administrators, and coaches who want to move beyond behavior "management" and toward responsive guidance that supports emotional regulation, deepens relationships, and creates more connected learning environments for all.

In this session, you will:

• Understand how behavior communicates unmet needs, especially for children still developing language and self-regulation skills.

• Reflect on how adult regulation and awareness influence responses to behavior.

• Recognize patterns and triggers—including time of day, environment, and interpersonal dynamics—that impact behavior.

• Apply practical, proactive strategies to guide behavior with empathy and without labels or shame.

• Build a collaborative approach to behavior guidance that supports both adults and children.