As educators, we wonder why children exhibit strange behavior and what can I do to help children model appropriate behavior. Many risk factors can impact a child's behavior. As educators and parents, our goal is to encourage positive behavior that allows children to thrive and succeed in learning. In this article, I will discuss risk factors that influence behavior and strategies that teachers can use to help the child regain control of their behavior. Risk factors related to challenging behaviors have been classified into two categories, biological and environmental. A biological risk factor is defined “as anything that impacts a child from the time of conception until birth, and begins with genes” (Kaiser & Sklar Rasminsky, 2012, p.18). According to Kaiser and Sklar Rasminsky (2012), the environmental risk factor is described as "the section begins with the child's family, the environment closest to the child, and continues outward through the Bronfenbrenner's (1979) ecological model that focuses on peers, school, community, and influences. of society” (p. 18). The risk factors that I will discuss in this article that influence behavior are lack of parental involvement, poverty and media (violence). Parents are key players in a child's life and development. As educators, we know that being a parent can have many challenges. Children should be important to their parents, but in some cases, they may not have a positive relationship or bond with their father or mother. When a parent is not involved in their child's life, education, or development or does not respond to the child in a warm and loving manner, the child may respond with aggressive behavior. “Research has determined that if parents want it..... . middle of paper......and through that we need to meet the child where they are in life, who they are, respect them as an individual and redirect them towards positive and appropriate behavior. When we give children the message that they are loved and valued, they develop a sense of belonging, as well as a sense of self that promotes positive self-esteem. Works CitedFeeney, S., Moravcik, E. and Nolte, S. and Christensen, D. (2010). Who am I in children's lives? (8th ed.). Columbus, OH: Merrill. Morgan, A. (2008). Kaiser, B. and Sklar Rasminsky, J. (2012). Challenging behaviors in young children (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. Lopez, E. (2009, December). Value families as partners. Early Childhood News: Developing Adults Working with Developing Children, 2(4). Retrieved from http://www.earlychildhoodnyc.org/pdfs/eng/Early%20Childhood%20News%202_4.pdf