Disciplining a Toddler/Preschooler Behavioral Assessments

Question 1

Behavioral Assessment of Biting (3)

Answer 1

1. Biting is very normal for preschoolers, especially at 2 years old and should be taught not to do it; usually biting is a result of frustration
2. Must tell them that they should not do it; need to say it sternly and be consistent and don’t let the child get away with it at any point
3. History and physical: check for speech delays (b/c displaying frustration), check for developmental delay (but normal to bite at this time)

Question 2

Differentiating between normal and problematic behaviors (6)

Answer 2

1. Quantity: Not the actual behavior but the frequency of occurrences
   * need to check how often the biting or other problematic behavior occurs
2. Distribution: Different manifestations
   * When does it occur? all the time? or only with father? etc.
3. Duration: Longer than 4 weeks
4. Maladaptive: Impairing social or cognitive functions
5. Level of distress: Inappropriate
   * Check level of distress the child has
6. When taking the history, assess what brings on the behavior (ex: if someone always has a temper tantrum around toys, then don’t take the kid around those toys)

Question 3

Managing Undesirable Behaviors (5)

Answer 3

1. A-B-C
   - Antecedent
   - Behavior
   - Consequence
2. Avoid certain situations
3. Time-outs; Rule of thumb for time outs is 1 minute for every year of age, and starting at age 3; needs to be done at spot of the house with nothing exciting nearby (they are aloud to know how long they are in time out for)
4. Interruption of privileges
   * Ex: no TV tonight, taking away a toy
5. Maintain consistent discipline

Question 4

ABC: Antecedent

Answer 4

Include the beliefs, feelings, setting events, and acts of others that predict when a particular behavior will occur

A) What triggers the behaviors?

B) Keeping a diary may help parents realize the triggers
*Ex: does this always occur in the toy aisle at Target?

Question 5

ABC: Behavior (5)

Answer 5

1. Frequency
2. Duration
3. Intensity of the identified behavior
4. What did the behavior look like?
5. Is the problem a can’t do problem or a won’t do problem?

Question 6

ABC: Behavior, types of behaviors (3)

Answer 6

1. Internal, cognitive or verbal
   - Learning problem, reading problem, intrusive thoughts
2. Overt, motor-related problem
   - Hyperactivity, tics, tantrums
3. Psychological problem
   - Anxiety or Depression

• Children have behaviors maybe because of anxiety or depression or because of motor problems
• Additionally, could be because of developmental delays (ex not ready to do homework yet); may have an undiscovered learning problem

Question 7

ABC: Consequences (5)

Answer 7

1. Consequences may maintain the behavior
2. Can strengthen or reinforce a behavior
3. Punish or weaken a behavior
4. What immediately follows the behavior?
5. Need the consequence to occur right after the bad behavior

Question 8

Reinforcement for Behaviors (what it is, negative and positive)

Answer 8

Reinforcement increases behaviors, both negative and positive, particularly if the child is doing it for attention

1. Negative reinforcement
   * Increases behavior if they get a attention for negative behavior
2. Positive reinforcement
   * Must follow the behavior you would like to increase
   * Most effective if contingent, immediate, and obvious
   * Applies following a behavior that they want to increase

Question 9

Behavioral Interventions (5)

Answer 9

1. Increase appropriate behavior based on principles of reinforcement
2. Social reinforcers—Praise, approval, acknowledgement
3. Star Charts; Get a star for good behavior
4. Token economy—poker chips, points, stickers; Tokens exchanged for secondary reinforcements
5. Tangible reinforcement—stickers, candy, toys, TV time or video game time; Differs from bribery since it is only used after the appropriate behavior is observed

Question 10

Methods to decrease or eliminate inappropriate behavior based on principles of punishment (3)

Answer 10

1. Extinction
   - Withdrawal or withholding of reinforcers following the target behavior
   - Ignoring the problem behavior
2. Time out
   - More effective if the child is removed from a reinforcing situation
3. Loss of Privileges

Question 11

Strategies to Improve Behavior (7)

Answer 11

1. Consistency
2. Creating predictable routine
   * Time in: Special time
   * A positive thing; i.e. let’s sit and play blocks right now
3. Increasing positive attention
4. Giving effective direction
5. Ignoring minor problems
   * Ignoring minor things may help (i.e. choose your battles)
6. Time out from reinforcement
7. Sensible consequences

Question 12

Common Traps for Parents

Answer 12

1. Ignoring desirable behavior
   - Misbehavior is the only behavior that is noticed
2. Modeling inappropriate and aggressive behavior
3. Ineffective instructions
   - Too many, too few, vague, given without the child’s full attention, unrealistic
4. Inconsistency