Children may engage in one or more problem behaviours from time to time. Some factors should be considered in determining whether the behaviour is truly of concern.

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These include:

• injuring themselves or others

• behaving in a manner that presents immediate risk to themselves or others

• frequency and severity of the behaviour

• number of problematic behaviours that are occurring at one time

• significant change in the child’s behaviour

• withdrawal If the child presents

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With any type of the following behaviours, consider this a red flag:

 

Self-Injurious Behaviour

► Bites self, slaps self, grabs at self

► Picks at skin, sucks excessively on skin/ bangs head on surfaces

► Eats inedibles

► Intentional vomiting (when not ill)

► Potentially harmful risk taking (e.g., running into traffic, setting fires)

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Aggression

► Temper tantrums, excessive anger, threats

► Hits, kicks, bites, scratches others, pulls hair

► Bangs, slams objects, property damage

► Cruelty to animals

► Hurting those less able/bullies others

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Social Behaviour

► Difficulty paying attention/hyperactive, overly impulsive

► Screams, cries excessively, swears

► Hoarding, stealing

► No friends, socially isolated, will not make eye or other contact, withdrawn

► Anxious, fearful/extreme shyness, agitated

► Compulsive behaviour, obsessive thoughts, bizarre talk

► Exhibiting inappropriate behaviour in public (e.g., undressing)

► Touches self or others in inappropriate ways, precocious knowledge of a sexual nature

► Flat affect, inappropriate emotions, unpredictable angry outburst, disrespect or striking

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Life Skills

► Oppositional behaviour

► Running away

► Resisting assistance that is inappropriate to age

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Self-Stimulatory Behaviour

► Deficits in expected functional behaviours (e.g., eating, toileting, dressing, poor play skills)

► Regression, e.g., loss of skills, refusal to eat, sleep disturbances

► Difficulty managing transitions/routine changes

► Hand-flapping, hand wringing, rocking, swaying

► Repetitious twirling, repetitive object manipulation