Pediatric Behaviors Part 1: Identifying Behaviors

Presented by Sandra Brown

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Video Runtime: 43 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 18 Minutes

All children demonstrate behaviors, yet when these behaviors impact participation in healthcare interventions, what do you do? When do you intervene? This course is designed to introduce learners to the significance and impact of challenging behaviors in pediatrics. As part of this course, you will recognize behavioral responses and when you may need to step in. Additionally, you will identify common functions as to why children engage in behaviors and recognize how children display these behaviors. Results from a national survey of occupational therapists regarding the impact of challenging behaviors will be shared. Commonly used strategies will be identified as well as current gaps in the knowledge and evidence for best practices to address challenging behaviors in pediatric practice.

Meet your instructor

Sandra Brown

Dr. Sandra Brown is an assistant professor in the occupational therapy department at Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Brown has been an occupational therapist for more than 25 years. She specializes in pediatrics; however, she has worked in a variety of settings, including home-based schools, residential…

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Chapters & learning objectives

What Is Behavior?

1. What Is Behavior?

Recognizing that all children demonstrate behaviors is important; however, when these behaviors impact a child’s participation in daily activities, this can be a challenge, especially when they are receiving skilled intervention to address an identified concern. Behavior will be defined and discussed, as will the public health significance of challenging behaviors.

Why Do Children Act This Way?

2. Why Do Children Act This Way?

When children demonstrate challenging behaviors while participating in skilled intervention, being able to identify and differentiate the reasons why they are demonstrating the behavior and how these behaviors present are important. The common functions of behaviors will be displayed, as will examples of what these behaviors look like.

How Do Behaviors Impact a Child’s Participation in Specialized Care?

3. How Do Behaviors Impact a Child’s Participation in Specialized Care?

This chapter will present results from a national survey of occupational therapy practitioners who were probed about their perceptions of challenging behaviors in pediatric intervention. The impact of behaviors will be discussed and compared, as will the intensity of behaviors. Finally, the analysis and interpretation of gaps in current knowledge and education will be presented.