All behavior creates outcomes and consequences. Positive behaviors achieve positive outcomes --
an adult performs well at work and get a promotion.. a child does well in school and receives good grades and praise

Negative behaviors usually achieve negative outcomes. However, sometimes children act out in negative ways to gain attention from the adults in their lives. The child sees this as a positive interaction.

There are no random behaviors in children. Further, behavior is often a response to a child’s environment - perhaps to school, home, a family member or baby sitters. When evaluating the causes of a child’s behavior, it is necessary to look at the whole child, including all relevant environments.

The key to reducing unwanted behaviors is understanding the when, where and why a child is doing them, then intervening to change their environment.

Behavioral Therapists have experience working with all kinds of childhood behaviors such as:

• Aggressive behaviors
  • biting
  • hitting
  • spitting
• Transitioning
• Attention Issues
  • hyperactivity
  • not listening
• Anxiety
• Difficulty with Social Skills

Effective treatment protocols exclude confronting small children about bad conduct as they often do not have the cognitive maturity to reason through a situation. Sometimes calling attention to an action is counterproductive and only serves to further embed the behavior.

One proven method begins with determining the cause of the behavior, and then attempts to change the behavior by changing the environment. Consistent small changes result in major long-term results. The course of the therapy is generally as follows:

• Observation of the child in the environment where the unwanted behaviors are occurring.
• Creating a functional assessment of behavior which explains why the child is acting in a particular way.
• Working with teachers, parents and other school personnel, and giving concrete strategies to change the behaviors.
• Consistent follow through until the child is successful.

From understanding the social and emotional needs of their child, to addressing their child’s behaviors, raising a child is a difficult job. Parents know that behavioral issues, like all developmental concerns – speech and language or motor coordination – should be addressed early to ensure the long-term success and happiness of the child.
 

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