What to Record Before a Behaviour Consultation

Choose one situation to understand

Start with a recurring difficulty such as leaving for school, turning off a screen or joining a meal. Record a few ordinary examples, including times the same situation went well. You do not need to monitor your child throughout the day.

Replace broad labels with observable descriptions: “pushed the book away and shouted for two minutes” tells a clinician more than “was impossible”. Include the adult’s response as well as the child’s actions.

Record the context, action and response

A before–during–after note can organise information, but it is not a diagnosis or proof of why a behaviour happens. If the child can describe the experience, include their own account.

• Before: activity, instruction, noise, waiting, changes and possible tiredness or discomfort.
• During: what the child did, any words or gestures, duration and any injury.
• After: what adults did, what changed, how recovery happened and what seemed helpful.

One example of a useful note

“Tuesday, homework after a long school day. I gave three instructions together. My child pushed the page away and said ‘too much’. I paused and showed one question. They returned after a short break.” This is a description to discuss, not evidence that a particular treatment has already worked.

Do not provoke an outburst to collect information, withhold comfort to test a theory or film an unsafe incident instead of helping. Seek medical advice for sudden changes, pain, illness or loss of skills.

Bring the record to a collaborative discussion

Ask the clinician to consider communication, learning demands, sensory needs, sleep and family or school context. Ask which support can be changed first and what a meaningful improvement would look like.

If there is immediate danger or serious injury, use urgent medical help rather than waiting to finish a record. For routine concerns, bring existing school notes and tell the clinic if a paediatrician or another therapist is already involved.

A short appointment preparation checklist

Choose one priority you want help with and bring the relevant task or material if practical. Explain what your child can do with support, what happens on an easier day and what you have already tried. Include current health concerns and existing professional involvement rather than trying to produce a perfect record.

If another carer contributes notes, identify who observed each event and distinguish estimates from measurements. Ask the clinic whether it needs a school report before arranging extra paperwork. Keep records private and avoid sending identifiable photographs or videos unless the clinician explains why they are needed and how they will be handled.