Function-Based Interventions Strategies

Children engage in millions of different behaviors each day from crying to hugging to running away from someone to engage in a game of chase or darting away to avoid certain activities.

There’s a purpose for every behavior and the function falls into four main categories (SEAT):

Sensory

Escape task or environment

Gain Attention

Tangible

If your child is being seen by a behavior specialist, he or she likely has an FBA (i.e., Functional Behavioral Assessment). FBAs typically lists concerning behaviors, the function of behavior, and intervention strategies.

The table below offers possible intervention strategies based on the function of problem behaviors (click here for the high resolution pdf)