Back to Basics: Behavior

Looking Beyond the Behavior

One of the most common questions parents ask is:

"Why is my child doing this?"

It's a natural question, especially when a behavior feels confusing, unexpected, or challenging.

The truth is, behavior is something we all use every day.

We laugh, cry, ask for help, walk away from situations, fidget, rub our temples when we have a headache, or yawn when we're tired.

Behavior is simply something we do, and it's often influenced by what's happening around us or inside our bodies.

For children, behaviors may be influenced by many different factors, including communication, sensory experiences, fatigue, hunger, illness, frustration, excitement, changes in routine, or skills that are still developing.

Rather than asking only, "How do I stop this behavior?" it can be helpful to pause and ask:

• What happened right before this?

• What happened afterward?

• Could my child be trying to communicate something?

• Is there a sensory need?

• Are they tired, hungry, overwhelmed, or not feeling well?

• Is there a skill they haven't learned yet?

Sometimes the behavior itself isn't the problem—it's the clue that helps us understand what support might be needed.

We tend to use the word behavior when something is challenging, but smiling, waving, asking for a hug, sharing a toy, or walking away from a noisy room are all behaviors too.

Learn • Observe • Support • Personalize • Collaborate • Stay Open-Minded

Back to Basics

Taking complex topics and breaking them into simple, practical steps for families.