Functional Analysis and Treatment of Pica on a Preschool Playground

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Behavioral Analysis
• Educational Interventions

Background:

• Dangerous problem behaviors, such as pica, negatively impact children's educational outcomes and well-being.
• Function-based assessments and interventions are vital for addressing these behaviors effectively.
• Inclusive childcare settings require tailored strategies for managing challenging behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a function-based assessment for a child exhibiting pica in an inclusive childcare setting.
• To develop and evaluate function-based interventions targeting pica.
• To assess the generalization and maintenance of interventions through teacher implementation.

Main Methods:

• A case study approach was employed.
• Function-based assessment was used to identify the maintaining variables for pica.
• Function-based interventions were designed and implemented collaboratively with the teaching team.

Main Results:

• The assessment indicated that pica was maintained by access to adult attention.
• Interventions successfully reduced the frequency of pica.
• Teachers continued to implement the interventions post-assessment, maintaining low levels of pica.

Conclusions:

• Function-based approaches are effective for addressing pica in childcare settings.
• Identifying and targeting the function of behavior (e.g., attention) is key to successful intervention.
• Collaborative intervention planning and implementation with educators promote sustained positive outcomes.