Challenging behavior can mean many things to many people.  ZERO TO THREE has developed a set of resources to help parents and professionals better understand and respond to some of the most common and typical challenges that crop up in children’s early years: Aggression, defiance, inconsolable crying, children who are slow-to-warm-up, and sleep challenges. 

As you explore these resources, keep in mind that no two children are exactly alike. Every child is born with his or her own temperament, a unique way of experiencing and approaching the world. Temperament influences a child’s behavior. 

Because every child is different, it is impossible to offer one strategy or response that will work for everyone. To help you apply the information here to your individual child, think about how your child’s temperament might influence his or her behavior, and how you may adapt the strategies you read about to meet the needs of your child and your family. 

Much of the content on this page was developed through the generous funding and support of the Carl and Roberta Deutsch Foundation.