step 1 – Choose a child
Option 1: Use your own child or a child with whom you have access:
If you have access to a child, you can use a child or adolescent from 2-16 for this assignment.
Why you chose this child.
What behavior you observed (or what behavior you noticed in the child’s sample scenario) and wished to change and why?
What were the antecedents and consequences that were contributing to the behavior?
Were there setting events that were influencing the child?
What is the possible Function of the behavior?
What was your goal statement and why?
What preventions did you plan and why?
What replacement behavior did you plan to teach and why?
What reinforcements or new responses did you plan to try and why?
Optional: If you were able to try any of this plan with the child, you may share the results of your attempts.
Please explain the most important ideas you learned from this assignment and why you think they were important. You may also include any challenges you faced while doing this assign
Describe what happened immediately before the behavior (A- antecedent) and what happened immediately after the behavior (C- Consequence or Maintaining Consequence). In the behavior column, describe the behavior using factual language. Use exact quotes if possible, or describe the behavior using factual words to describe actions.
If you are using your own child, there is an ABC Functional Assessment form on page 288 in our text as well. Here is the Functional Assessment Interview form with ABC Chart at the bottom:
Parent Interview form with ABC chart at the bottom of the formDownload Parent Interview form with ABC chart at the bottom of the form
Setting Event: If you believe a setting event may be contributing to the child’s behavior, please indicate this in your written summary.
Function Hypothesis: After you have observed for 3-4 days (or you may use the samples from Pablo, Sashi or Sarah, try to determine the function (purpose) of the behavior). Take your best guess as to why the child is using this behavior based on the ABCs. Remember, there is nothing wrong with the function. Write your best guess in the function box. If you work with others who also deal with this child, discuss the possible function of the behavior with them to determine if others agree with your hypothesis. (See example from handout in Module 10)
Possible functions may be: To get something (an object, attention, power, etc), to escape or avoid something (another child, a teacher, an activity, clean up), or to increase or decrease stimulation (movement/ activity level etc). See more on the chart.
Category: Child Guidance
In this paper, you are not just answering questions. You are analyzing and evaluating the guidance practices which were used in your family and how they relate to the guidance practice you use now and in the future. The specifics are included under each paragraph, but you may break the paragraphs up into more paragraphs also. You should thoroughly describe each section of the paper and use your analysis and evaluation skills.
Paragraph one: Describe who raised you during your childhood in your family of origin (The family who raised you) and your relationship to these individuals. Do you have a positive or negative relationship with the people who raised you? Describe your current relationships with those who raised you. (If your family members or guardians are not living please discuss any relationships you may have had with them as an adult).
Paragraph two: Were your parents affectionate or not? Did you have open communication patterns? Describe communication patterns in your home. Did your parents have high control or low control? Would you consider your parents permissive, authoritarian or authoritative? Use Diana Baumrind’s descriptions to identify and explain why you chose your answer. You may include a combination of styles for one of your parents and discuss each parent’s parenting style. Sometimes a parent will use one parenting style for a while and then change to a different parenting style.
Paragraph three: Give examples of discipline practices used by your family to raise you. Describe the practices and give three specific examples you can remember that may have had an impact on your life, either in a positive or negative way.
Paragraph four: Describe the impact your parents’ guidance and discipline practices had on your own self-esteem and current beliefs and practices. Will you, or do you, carry on your parents practices with the children in your life? What beliefs or practices have remained the same? What beliefs or practices have changed? Why have they changed or remained unchanged?
Paragraph Five: Describe three strengths and three weaknesses of each of your primary caregivers (parents, grandparents, or whoever raised you) when it comes to your relationship growing up. Be sure for find strengths and weaknesses in each caregiver for full credit.
Paragraph Six : Describe three of your own strengths and three weaknesses when it comes to your personal ability to provide guidance and discipline to children. Discuss & describe areas which you think should be improved and what you need to learn or practice in order to improve your guidance and discipline strategies when working with children in the future. What strategies have you learned so far in this class which may help with guiding children?