Common behavioral dilemmas of the school-aged child

PCPs are typically the first professionals to come into contact with children who have behavioral or developmental problems. The most common behavioral concerns that PCPs encounter in the pediatric primary care setting include noncompliance, temper tantrums, and problems with eating and sleeping routines. To adequately detect these types of problems, it essential that PCPs incorporate behavioral assessment procedures (eg, clinical interviews, behavior rating scales, ABC recording form) into the consultation process. Behavioral assessment procedures are useful in identifying the environmental events (ie, antecedents and consequences) that may be maintaining the problem behavior. Data that are collected from behavioral assessment can be used to develop a tentative hypothesis on functions of the behavioral problem. By identifying the potential function of the behavior, more effective behavioral management strategies can be developed. An existing model of behavioral consultation can be used by PCPs during office visits to more effectively identify and manage many of the common and less severe behavioral problems.