Be part of the solution

with fresh perspective, strategies and inspired practice

Here is what educators say they WANT and GAIN from Behaviour Rethink:

  • Understand behaviour and learn new ways to support children

  • Use better strategies to guide children

  • Feel more confident in my approach

  • Rethink, improve and change my/team's approach

Watch Intro Video

Behaviour Rethink for Educators

Course intro with Andrea, First Door Company Director

Find ways to move from chaos to calm

with lifetime access to course resources

  • Printable course workbook

    Take notes and pause for reflection in your printable course workbook, as you make your way through the course material. Add your workbook to your personal reference resources to refer back to over time.

  • 4 tutorials and 5 videos

    There's 3 hours of course tutorials and videos, to support you to rethink your approach to children's social and behavioural learning. Join Andrea in professional conversations with Sandi Phoenix and Narelle Dawson.

  • Learning checks & practical resources

    Take advantage of the learning checks throughout the course to check your understanding, and download the provided resources to support your new ideas and strategies.

Work at your own pace through these 4 parts:

  • Part 1: Reframe behaviour and understand behaviour

    Reframe behaviour as communication that is being used to meet basic needs for wellbeing, based on the Phoenix Cups framework™. Use this knowledge to see from the child's perspective and support their wellbeing.

  • Part 2: Review your approach and curriculum for stressors/triggers - and reduce them

    Discover triggers for behaviour and how reinforcement of behaviour works. Reflect on what's happening in your curriculum to create stress/frustration for children, and consider child-focused routines/practices.

  • Part 3: Support self-regulation

    Explore the impact of your language, interactions and relationships on children's emotional wellbeing. Rethink your response to children's big emotions, to model and support their resilience and self-regulation.

  • Part 4: Bring it all together with a shared plan

    We introduce you to Hayden. He guides us in how to better understand a child, their behaviour, and in reflecting, planning, and reviewing what we do. Use provided templates to reframe and understand behaviour, then make a plan to support and strengthen wellbeing.

Course curriculum

  • 1
    Welcome and Intro to Behaviour Rethink!
  • 2
    COURSE RESOURCES & TEMPLATES
    • Behaviour Rethink course workbook (Printable file)
    • Reframe the behaviour visual poster
    • Observations of reoccuring behaviour worksheet (Printable template)
    • Shared thinking, planning, implementation and review (Printable templates)
    • Recommended reading: short articles to support course learning
    • Reference list and recommended reading: Books for ongoing learning
  • 3
    PART 1: Understand behaviour using the Phoenix Cups framework ™
    • TUTORIAL 1: Understand behaviour from a child's and theoretical perspective (21 minutes)
    • 1.1: Video: Your Image of the Child (5 minutes)
    • 1.2: Video - Sandi Phoenix outlines the five Cups in the Phoenix Cups framework
    • Phoenix Cups ™ - Cup filling planner
    • Phoenix Cups ™ Fills and empties - Activity sheets
    • Check your learning for Part 1: Understand behaviour
  • 4
    PART 2: Review your approach and the curriculum
    • TUTORIAL 2: Review your approach and the curriculum for influences on behaviour (25 minutes)
    • The Phoenix Cups ™ Connection Plan
    • Observation for patterns of reoccurring behaviour worksheet
    • 2.1: Video - Reflecting on practice to meet children's needs at Bribie Island Community Kindergarten
    • Check your learning for Part 2: Review your approach and curriculum
  • 5
    PART 3: Support self-regulation
    • 3.1: Video - Self-Regulation Skills - Why they are fundamental, by Committee for Children (2 minutes)
    • TUTORIAL 3: Supporting self-regulation (30 minutes)
    • Self-regulation infographic: Do you Magnify or Meet behaviour?
    • Quiz for scenarios: Is it a 'Magnify or Meet' response?
    • Self-regulation list of 'too low strategies'
    • Self-regulation list of 'too high strategies'
    • 3.2: Video - Strategies for breathing and calming
    • Printable: Rainbow Breathing poster
    • Check your learning for Part 3: Supporting self regulation
  • 6
    PART 4: Bring it all together with a plan
  • 7
    Next steps
    • Congrats! Here's where next...
    • Before you go...

Customer Reviews

What others are saying about this course:

  • Dr. Shelley Stravitz, Educational Leader - Rated ★★★★★
    "The ways in which pedagogy and practice are woven throughout these exceptionally thoughtful videos, visuals and reproducibles enables educators and their teams to weave best practices into every moment of respectful relationship with the children in their care and with each other."

  • Ayesha Siddiqua, Nominated Supervisor/Director - Rated ★★★★★
    "I learned a lot through this course. My next steps are to share my learning with colleagues and coach them to achieve the goals for children's social and emotional development and wellbeing."

  • Noreen Kennedy, Educator - Rated ★★★★★
    "This course has helped provide strategies, guidance and support with the children who require self-regulation with their emotions and behaviours."

  • Donna Nalaprava, Educator - Rated ★★★★★
    "I will be more confident in my role with what I have learnt in this course. I will use this in my service as an educator, and to better myself and understand patterns of a child's behaviour more effectively. I have truly enjoyed this course all the way through, very knowledgeable. Thank you."

  • Myra Watson, Educator - Rated ★★★★★
    "My next steps are to observe child's behaviour in a different way. It has given me a new perspective to my responsiveness to child behaviour. I will share my knowledge with my educators for better outcomes across the board."

  • Katie Samuels, Educator - Rated ★★★★★
    "This is such a helpful course in understanding behaviour and how to support children in meaningful and respectful ways. The information and tools I gained from this course have empowered and better equipped me for working with children to meet their needs and support them in developing the skills they need for life. I cannot speak highly enough of this course."

Course Facilitator and Contributors

  • Andrea Isitt

    Course creator and facilitator

    Andrea Isitt

    Andrea commenced studying early childhood development over 30 years ago, and this started a career focused on achieving best outcomes for children in Early Childhood. After several years working as a qualified educator and leader, Andrea co-founded First Door in 2012. Her passion as Company Director is driven by her desire to promote exceptional education and care for children.

    Andrea promotes respectful practice that nurtures emotional security and a natural childhood. She is an avid researcher and shares views from Dr. Emmi Pikler and many leading Early Childhood theorists, play and learning ambassadors, and from current neuroscience research. Andrea has been influenced by her experience of Early Childhood Education in New Zealand, and by visiting Bush Kindys and Forest Kindergartens in Norway, California and Australia.

  • Sandi Phoenix

    Course contributor

    Sandi Phoenix

    Sandi is the founding company director and principal facilitator at Phoenix Support. Her framework, The Phoenix Cups, have revolutionised how educators understand and work with children’s behaviour. First Door became a licensed Phoenix Cups affiliate in 2018 to incorporate and promote the Phoenix Cups, as a model for understanding behaviour relating to basic human life needs. Sandi has contributed to Behaviour Rethink by engaging in video professional conversations with Andrea, and sharing some Phoenix Cups resources, in the first part of the course.
  • Clare Caro

    Course contributor

    Clare Caro

    Clare Caro is the founder of The Pikler Collection, Nature Play® (UK) and Authentic Learning Environment. As an ongoing learner, researcher and writer, her wealth of insightful knowledge is shared through her websites and in workshops. Clare embodies this knowledge and shares practical application through Nature Play groups, and in every day life and pedagogy with her own two daughters.

    Andrea and Clare have enjoyed professional collaboration since their first meeting in London in 2016. Clare promotes the importance of respectful relationships, helpful language and educators co-regulating with children. She collaborated with Andrea on the 'Magnify or Meet behaviour' concept and resource in this course.

Behaviour Rethink: Team learning package

Support your team to rethink behaviour together

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