# Understanding Behaviours of Concern

> How to read your child's behaviour as communication, not defiance.
- Title: Understanding Behaviours of Concern · Wellbeing Magazine
- Summary: How to read your child's behaviour as communication, not defiance. Children's behaviours signal unmet needs; functional approaches help families respond…
- Keywords: behaviour, families, carers, functional approach, positive behaviour support, ndis, australia, Understanding, Behaviours, Concern, Wellbeing Magazine
- Source: Wellbeing Magazine — https://wellbeingmagazine.com/understanding-behaviours-of-concern-a-guide-for-families-and-carers
- Author: Editorial Team
- Published: 2026-09-30T08:15:13+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: behaviour, families, carers, functional approach, positive behaviour support, ndis, australia
## Screams and Plates
Your daughter screams when you reach for car keys. Your son throws dinner plates most nights.
## Behaviour as Message
When someone has limited words, behaviour is their only message available to them.
## Not Defiance
Aggression, self-injury, shutting down are usually someone’s best way to express unspoken needs.
## Functional Approach
Change the environment or support to shift behaviour, not just mute symptoms.
## Spotting Patterns
Ask who was there, what happened before, when it strikes, and where the person was.
## Rule Out Physical Causes
Pain, illness, constipation, or ear infections can surface as behaviour before anyone connects the dots.
## Three Moments, Three Jobs
Before: build routines. During: de-escalate. After: allow recovery time.
## Practitioner Role
A behaviour support practitioner runs formal assessments and builds individualised plans.
## Australia’s NDIS
Australia uses Positive Behaviour Support through the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
## Key takeaway

Children's behaviours signal unmet needs; functional approaches help families respond effectively.