The word “challenging behavior” can evoke feelings of frustration, anger, hostility or a sense of helplessness in any parent, teacher or guardian of a child. young child with behavioral problems. Education.com (2006 - 2012) defines this term: as behavior that may interfere with a child's ability to learn, develop, or play in a socially acceptable manner. They further define challenging behavior as behavior that could be potentially dangerous to the child or others. This type of behavior in a young child predisposes him to social problems and academic failure (Klass, Guskin and Thomas, 1995; Ritchie and Pohl, 1995). Marion (2011) defines challenging behavior as a stimulus to which a child responds poorly, which in turn challenges parents or teachers to guide them in a positive manner. Current research indicates that children who have very difficult behavior will have problems in school. They have problems with social skills, emotional control and language development. These inadequacies contribute to the lack of skills needed to succeed in basic academic tasks such as reading (Coi, 1996). Traits often attributed to children who exhibit these traits are hyperactivity, inattention, and disruptive behavior. Teachers are twice as likely to neglect them, ask them fewer questions, and be unresponsive (Webster-Stratton and Herbert, 1994; Shonkoff and Phillips, 2000). Children with behavioral disorders face much greater challenges in social and emotional development. Other children will tease and ridicule them, or reject them altogether. These experiences damage the child's self-esteem and confidence, making them feel depressed and isolated. Once a child accepts rejection, he or she struggles or ...... middle of paper ......s, with the difficulties of resolving conflicts for academic success. Parents play a central role in teaching their young children how to behave or respond appropriately to certain stimuli. Positive interactions between adults and children, such as respect, creating an unrushed environment, using calm tones, and accepting differences, go a long way in changing or directing a child's behavior (Marion , 2011). For some children, the way to react positively to a certain situation is innate. However, other children need to learn the skills to productively and successfully manage conflicts that may arise. This can be achieved through a direct model plan, a PBIS or a behavior matrix (Carter & Pool, 2012). The goal of challenging behaviors is to prevent these behaviors from developing, providing children with the skills to successfully navigate difficult situations..