When children show signs of problem behaviors, a functional behavior assessment can be very helpful in figuring out the cause of the problem behaviors. The behavior intervention plan (BIP) is based on the functional behavior assessment. The BIP’s goal is to replace the problem behaviors with more positive ones. An example could be a little boy throwing a toy every time he does not want to clean up. Instead of throwing, the BIP’s goal is to replace the throwing with saying words like “more”. These problem behaviors can include acting out or disrupting class, showing aggression towards peers, refusing to do classwork, and using inappropriate language.
It is very important for your child’s therapy team to figure out the cause of the problem behaviors. Without the cause, we would not know what the child was trying to communicate. After the cause of the problem behavior is identified, an intervention plan can be created to replace the problem behavior with a more positive one. The behavior intervention plan is designed to teach and reward positive behaviors.
The BIP itself is made up of a few different things. It will include:
- description of the problem behavior
- reason why the problem behavior occurs
- strategies to address the problem behavior
- who is responsible for helping the child with different aspects of their BIP
An example of a BIP can look a little like this:
- The student will ask for a break when needed
- The teacher will teach the student self-calming activities
- The student will be removed from a group after three warnings until he can show control
A Behavior Intervention Plan is specialized and individualized for each child. With that being said, BIPs may not perfect when they are originally created but they can always be readjusted when a plan is not working smoothly.
