Most parents agree that raising a child isn't easy. The whining, begging, fighting and tantrums can, at times, be overwhelming, but when a child has serious behavioral problems that escalate into violence or full blown disobedience, parenting can be utterly unbearable. Many of these parents have felt isolated, with nowhere to turn...until now. Behave'n Day Center offers structured learning programs for children ages 2 to 7 who have severe or chronic behavior problems. The center is well-suited to children who, for one reason or another, have been suspended or expelled from traditional schools and daycare centers. Behave'n, owned and operated by Janie Peterson, strives to help children learn to be successful at home, school and in their communities by providing a loving, caring and safe atmosphere. "Behave'n is a transitional care alternative for those who need help," says Peterson. "Our goal is not to keep the child at our center. We assist with behavior modification until the child is ready to be re-introduced to his or her daycare center or school. There is no other center like it in the Midwest."

Janie Peterson and her husband, Roger, opened Behave'n Day Center in November 2000 after both worked in administrative positions at Girls and Boys Town. Janie, a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner, was moonlighting as a counselor, providing help to parents whose children were experiencing problems in traditional daycare centers. She saw so many parents who needed an alternative to the usual daycare setting that she and Roger decided to open a facility that specializes in filling that niche. Janie, the center's director, is more hands on; Roger works with the Nebraska Children's Home Society and is starting a similar program there. Another center using the Behave'n model is opening in Grand Island, NE.

The Behave'n facility is more like a private home than a daycare center. The large white house located just off 90th and Dodge St. is open and welcoming. The soothing aroma of burning candles and the sound of children quietly playing in the background make Behave'n's calming atmosphere a welcome change to most raucous child care settings. Behave'n is licensed as a daycare and must follow strict guidelines set by the State of Nebraska. "We are cleared to care for up to 20 kids, but we keep our numbers much lower because of the amount of one-on-one care we provide," Peterson says. "We usually care for only 10 children at a time. That's a 3:1 teacher/student ratio, but sometimes it's more like 2:1." The center usually maintains a waiting list of approximately one month. Most of the full- and part-time staff members are college interns who found their work so rewarding that they chose to continue working at Behave'n after graduation. Each teacher is required to complete 36 hours of additional training per year, most of which is taught by Peterson and other clinical psychologists. "The goal of our staff is to improve the children," Peterson says. "They are all very invested in the kids and work as a team to do the best job they can for the children and their families." In addition to the staff, the parents play an integral part in the success of the Behave"n model. "Our parents are active team members in their child's intervention," Peterson says. "The parents tell us what we should work on. They communicate what the problems are, why the child has been dismissed from other schools or programs and what disciplinary measures have and have not worked in the past. Using this information, we develop an individual curriculum for each child. Together, we share ideas and try different approaches until one clicks. We won't stop until we find the right combination for each child."

The program is based on social learning theory, using praise, rewards and a hierarchy of time-outs to teach appropriate actions and reactions. "When a child is aggressive or non-compliant, that child is trying to have his needs met," Peterson says. "We teach alternative skills to help them meet their needs using socially-acceptable methods of communication. Getting to these children when they are young allows us to teach new behaviors before they have practiced their naughtiness for too long. These kids are too bright and too beautiful for their own good." She stresses praise and rewards as the keystones to changing unruly behavior. Praise can be as simple as giving a child the attention or time that she craves. A reward can come as a touch, pat, thumbs up or rub on the back. The staff also uses stickers, small toys and treats to reward a child. No restraints or additional medications are used by the Behave'n staff to contain or reprimand a child. "Fifty percent of the kids who come here are using some sort of mood-altering medication," Peterson adds. "Just ten percent leave still needing that medication." Using this simple formula, the Behave'n staff and parents see significant changes in most children's behavior in just one week. When a child graduates from Behave'n, the parent/staff relationship remains intact. "Our parents have a lifetime membership to our center. They can always call for help or a booster shot whenever they need support," Janie says. "Some kids may need a tune-up, so we are always here to offer a refresher course if needed."

The staff at Behave'n invites parents to visit the center and see what the program is all about. "We want parents to know there is help for these little kids and their families," Peterson says. "They need to know there are resources available and alternatives to medication." For more information about Behave'n Day Center, call 926-4373 or visit online at www.behavenkids.com.