Children may engage in one or more problem behaviours from time to time. Factors to consider in determining whether the behaviour is truly of concern include:
- Injuring themselves or others
- Behaving is a manner that present immediate risk to themselves or others
- Frequency and severity of the behaviour
- Number of problematic behaviours that are occurring at one time
- Significant change in the child’s behaviour
If the child presents any of the following behaviours, consider this a red flag:
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Self-injurious Behaviour
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- Bites self; slaps self; grabs at self
- Picks at skin; sucks excessively on skin/bangs head on surfaces
- Eats inedibles
- Intentional vomiting (when not ill)
- Intentional vomiting (when not ill)
- Potentially harmful risk taking (e.g. running into traffic, setting fires)
- High pain tolerance
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Aggression
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- Temper tantrums; excessive anger, threats
- Hits; kicks; bites; scratches others; pulls hair
- Bangs, slams objects; property damage
- Cruelty to animals
- Hurting those less able/bullies others
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Social Behaviour
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- Difficulty paying attention/hyperactive; overly impulsive
- Screams; cries excessively; swears; severe tantrums
- Hoarding; stealing
- No friends; socially isolated; will not make eye or other contact; withdrawn
- Anxious; fearful/extreme shyness; agitated
- Compulsive behaviour in public; undressing in public
- Touches self or others in inappropriate ways; precocious knowledge of a sexual nature
- Flat affect, inappropriate emotions, unpredictable angry outburst, disrespect or striking female teachers are examples of post trauma red flags for children who have witnessed violence
- Narrow range of interests that he/she engages in repetitively
- Insists on maintaining sameness in routines, activities, clothing, etc
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Non-compliance
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- Oppositional behaviour
- Running away
- Resists assistance that is appropriate to age (ie: holding hands to cross the road)
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Life Skills
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- Deficits in expected functional behaviours (e.g. eating, toileting, dressing, poor play skills)
- Regression; loss of skills; refusal to eat; sleep disturbances
- Difficulty managing transitions/routine changes
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Self-Stimulatory Behaviour
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- Hand-flapping; hand wringing; rocking; swaying
- Repetitious twirling; repetitive object manipulation
- Unusual sensory interest – visually squinting or looking at things out of the corner of eye; smelling; licking; mouthing objects, etc
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If there are social-emotional concerns, advise the parent to contact Child & Youth Mental Health at phone: 851-3600, Children’s Therapy & Family Resource Centre at 371-4100, or the Infant Development Program at phone 371-4140.
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Child Development 
Updated Friday, 11 December 2009 | 
