Parents · Guide
Behaviour as Communication
A note page for looking underneath a hard moment: what happened before, what the need might be, and what to try next.
- Parents and caregivers
The moment
What I saw and heard, without adding a motive
What happened just before
What the environment was like
What changed after the behaviour
Possible messages
More than one can be true. This is a guess to test, not a label.
Too much sensory input, or not enough
A transition, a surprise, or an unclear demand
Hunger, pain, fatigue, or illness
A need for connection, space, help, or control
A skill that is still growing, such as waiting or finding words
A smaller response
What I can change in the setup next time
What I can say or show
What I will not try to solve in the middle of the storm
This page is for noticing and remembering. It is not an assessment, a diagnosis, or a plan for every child.