What parents need to know
How therapists find the function of a behaviour using ABC data.
- Four common functions: escape, attention, tangible, sensory
- Data beats guesswork
- The plan follows the function
What you can do at home this week
- 1Observe and note: write down what you see for five days, with times and situations.
- 2Reduce competing noise: less screen time, more face-to-face play in short, frequent bursts.
- 3Follow your child's lead, then add one step more than they can do alone.
- 4Repeat the same routine daily — progress comes from consistency, not intensity.
When to seek professional help
Book an assessment if the difficulty has lasted more than three months, if your child has lost a skill they previously had, or if daily life at home or school is affected. Waiting rarely helps; early answers change outcomes.