A child may cry when it is time to leave an activity, refuse to put on a jacket, or become upset during a busy school event. While the behavior itself is often what gets our attention first, understanding why it is happening provides important information about what the child may need.
Fall changes in routines, activities, clothing, and environments can provide many real-life examples. By looking at what happens before and after a behavior, ABA therapists can identify patterns and use that information to teach skills that better address the child’s needs.
Look at What Happens Before the Behavior
What happens immediately before a behavior can provide important information. Consider what the child was doing, where they were, who was present, and whether something in their environment has recently changed.
Fall activities offer plenty of examples. A child may become upset when a school field trip changes their usual classroom routine, refuse after being asked to put on a costume for a school celebration, or try to leave shortly after entering a crowded fall festival.
What happened immediately before the behavior? For example, was the child asked to stop an activity, given a new instruction, moved into a different environment, or faced with a change in the expected routine?
Consider What the Behavior May Be Communicating
Behaviors can serve different purposes. A child may be trying to communicate discomfort, avoid or delay an activity, gain access to something they want, seek attention, or meet a sensory need. Understanding the function means looking at patterns rather than assuming what a behavior means based on how it looks.
For example, imagine a child begins crying when their family says it is time to leave the pumpkin patch. The crying may happen because the child wants to continue a preferred activity. In another situation, a child may cry shortly after arriving at a crowded fall event and repeatedly move toward the exit. Although the behavior looks similar, the circumstances surrounding it are different and may point to a different function.
Pay Attention to What Happens After
What happens immediately after a behavior matters, too. Does the child receive a break? Does the activity end? Do they get help, attention, or access to something they wanted?
Looking at what happens before and after a behavior over multiple situations can help identify patterns. Rather than making assumptions based on a single moment, caregivers and therapists can use these observations to develop a clearer understanding of what may be contributing to the behavior.
Teach Skills That Address the Need
Identifying the reason behind a behavior can help an ABA therapy team determine which skills may be useful to teach.
A child may learn to ask for a break during a noisy Halloween classroom party, request help with an unfamiliar activity on a school field trip, communicate discomfort when trying on a costume, or use a coping strategy when an outdoor fall event is canceled because of rain. As Thanksgiving approaches, children may also practice asking for space during a busy family gathering or communicating that they do not want a particular food.
These skills can be practiced across everyday situations, so children have additional ways to communicate their needs and respond when similar situations occur at home, school, or in the community.
At Steps to Progress, our ABA therapy in Houston is individualized to each child and focuses on building communication, independence, and practical skills for everyday life. Contact Steps to Progress to learn more about our ABA therapy programs and how we work with children and their families.
