What is the Honeymoon Period?
By Richard Kizis - Added 21st of December 2008What is the Honeymoon Period? referring to behaviour displayed during school for some children?
The ‘honeymoon period’ usually occurs after the six week holiday break, children change year groups and teachers, specific children are out to ‘impress’ generally with good intentions. This stage is where the child’s behaviour appears calm in the classroom, relief experienced from parents and teachers, this period can last for a few days or up to six weeks, filling both parents and teachers with the excitement that the challenging behaviour at last as been cracked. Little do we know that the children are just testing the boundaries of the new teacher and with every lesson just pushing a little bit more? When the child eventually feels confident within their new surroundings the true behaviour will be displayed. These children can’t sustain or hide their behaviour for long periods of time, however much they try. Bewildered and in shock, all wondering where has this behaviour come from, alas nothing has really changed at home or in school. The underlining facts are that this behaviour has always been there, never actually gone away, just simply that the child held it back for as long as they possible could. The relief for these children with challenging behaviour must feel like ‘holding your breath’ for as long as you possibly can, but eventually at some point in time they just have to let it out.