Lessons from LaRoux: How Needs Shape Behavior in Developing Brains

How can sound principles from another discipline inform our educational work with younger children?

It’s no secret that outward behaviours in our students rarely tell the whole story. Instead, those verbal and physical actions often serve as clues pointing to deeper needs, emotions, and desires. Once the underlying issues are addressed, the path away from negative words and actions becomes much smoother and clearer.

That bedrock truth is one of many that Dan St. Romain explores in this unique resource, Lessons from LaRoux: How Needs Shape Behavior in Developing Brains.

As he addresses fifteen key areas, St. Romain links an educational touch point - such as a student’s need for belonging - with a relevant story about his dog, LaRoux, and then a take-away strategy (in this case, the importance of building social skills and emphasising unstructured play in ways that foster belonging).

Along its fun and insightful journey, Lessons from LaRoux is filled with timely and applicable topics, including:

• The importance of approaching behaviours with understanding, not judgement

• How bringing every challenge back to development nurtures healthy learning

• The wisdom of assuming positive intent in the children in our care

• Why responding instead of reacting empowers students to make wise choices

• Keys to becoming a great behavioural detective - with a kind heart

• ...and more!

Especially in these crucial post-pandemic years, children who are still catching up developmentally need a strong network of support to help them acquire the behaviour skills needed for healthy learning and growth - and this resource shows the way.

Table of Contents

Introduction

1. Emotional Grounding
2. Boundaries
3. Consistency
4. Clarity
5. Joy
6. Belonging
7. Attention
8. Physical Activity
9. Control
10. Instruction
11. Practice
12. Mastery
13. Time
14. Healthy Relationships

Conclusion

Acknowledgements

About the Author

About NCYI