09/27/2025
What the "function" are you talking about?
I'm going to be blunt. There's no value to classifying a behavior as "attention seeking", "escape", "to get something tangible" or "sensory**", the traditional "functions" of a behavior".
**not related to the theory of sensory integration and most often labeled by professionals with no training in sensory integration.
Each one of those "functions" puts the onus on the child. Those descriptors don't help solve any problems. The human experience cannot be simplified to 4 "functions". You know what DOES help? Actually HELPING the child!
If your FBA (Functional Behavior Assessment) has one of those traditional descriptors or "functions", RIP IT UP and start over. It puts the people working with that child on a trajectory of behavior management instead of helping the child learn the skills they need to be the best versions of themselves.
Here's the re-frame.
Behavior is a symptom.
A child has a concerning behavior when:
1) There is an emotion they can't handle
2) There is a need not being met
3) There is a skill they don't have or
4) There is a problem they can't solve
Each one of those implies HELPING a child!
Helping a child navigate a big emotion. Helping them meet a need.
Helping them learn a skill, or
Helping them solve a problem.
As soon as a professional asks, "what's the function of the behavior", I know there's a massive disconnect not only between how we view behavior, but also how we view the child.
The re-frame supports helping a struggling child. The old paradigm promotes manipulating and/or extinguishing observable behavior. We know more now.
I'll say it again. Behavior is a symptom, not a problem. The problem lies within.
Let's commit to re-framing what behavior is and how we can truly help kids. Let's move away from token boards and behavior plans and focus more on skill building and supporting needs.
We can do it, but we need the old paradigm to be retired. Unfortunately, it's still pervasive in our schools and the mindset of behavior analysts and technicians. Let's choose compassion over compliance and helping over manipulating. Our kids need us to do that. They need our help.
Greg Santucci, MS, OTR
Executive Director
Power Play Pediatric Therapy
Chief Adventure Therapist
ClimbRx
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