My Child's Behavior Problems: "What Should I Do to Stop It?"
Min Jung Kwon When faced with a child's behavioral problems,
Do you ever wonder, "Why does this keep happening?" or "How can I make it stop?"
Behavioral therapists like us are in situations like this.
The first thing that comes to mind is the concept of 'FERB (Functionally Equivalent Replacement Behavior)'.
Because it is key to understand the function of problem behavior and help the child express his or her needs in more appropriate ways .
What is FERB?
FERB is the purpose (reinforcement) that the child is trying to achieve through the problem behavior.
It refers to behaviors that help you obtain something in a more appropriate and socially acceptable way .
To put it simply,
Rather than simply “stopping” a child’s behavior,
It is a strategy that helps you “express yourself in a meaningful way.”
for example,
If your child hits another child to get a toy
→ FERB can be a gesture or a gesture that says, “Give me the toy.”
If your child screams to avoid noise
→ FERB could be saying “I need to be quiet” or showing a picture card that says “I need a break.”
Why is FERB important?
1. To reduce behavior, you need a replacement behavior .
All of a child's actions have a purpose .
If there is no other way to achieve that goal,
Problem behaviors are bound to repeat themselves.
Substitution behaviors help the child fulfill that purpose in an appropriate way.
2. Create sustainable change .
Rather than stopping the behavior in the short term (e.g., scolding, strong sanctions),
Forming new behavioral habits lasts longer and generalizes across different environments.
3. Increase your child's self-esteem and self-regulation .
When you can express your desires through words and actions,
The child himself will experience, “I can control it.”
This is a very important foundation for social and emotional growth .
How can I find FERB?
1. First, identify the function of the problem behavior.
To find FERB, we must first understand why the behavior occurs .
What does the child want to achieve through this behavior?
✔️ Common feature examples:
1) Attention
2) Access to tangible items (obtaining items or activities)
3) Escape or avoidance
4) Sensory stimulation
2. Think of an alternative behavior that would be appropriate for your child.
You should choose a behavior that has the same function as the problem behavior but is more appropriate and easier to learn.
✔️ Example:
| Problem behavior | function | FERB (Alternative Action) |
|---|---|---|
| scream | Get noticed | Raise your hand to say, “Please look at me.” |
| Take away the toy | Get the item | Say "lend it to me" |
| Run away | Avoiding demands | Saying "I want to rest" |
| Biting one's hand | sensory stimulation | Touching tactile toys |
3. Teach and reinforce FERB.
FERB goes beyond simply informing .
1) Modeling and demonstration
2) Picture cards or visual aids
3) Immediate reinforcement must be provided.
Also, when a child uses FERB,
Rewards should be provided much more quickly and definitely than for problem behavior .
Are you curious about FERB, a substitute for your child's behavioral problems?
Please leave your questions in the comments below or send us an Everbloom DM!
Next time, I'll be back with a case-based introduction to FERB :)
References
Cooper, J.O., Heron, T.E., & Heward, W.L. (2020). Applied Behavior Analysis (3rd ed.).
Hanley, G. P., Iwata, B. A., & McCord, B. E. (2003). Functional Analysis of Problem Behavior: A Review . JABA.
Miltenberger, R. G. (2015). Behavior Modification: Principles and Procedures (6th ed.)