Tools for Parents, Educators, and Caregivers
The tools on this page are a sample of what you can find in our facilitator guide, James’s Journey: The ABCs of Positive Interventions: A Practical Guide for Teachers, Parents, and Caregivers.
Scenarios
Download the “Adventures Library” app from Google Play or App Store and scan the images below to watch the scenario come to life with augmented reality!
The ABC Model
The ABC model stands for Antecedent, Behavior, and Consequence, and it is instrumental in analyzing what happens before, during, and after a behavior (Green, Gina. Advanced Strategies in Behavioral Interventions. Elsevier, 2018). The ABC model allows practitioners and parents to implement targeted interventions.
Here’s how each component works:
Antecedent
This is what occurs immediately before the behavior. It can be seen as a trigger or a cue that sets the stage for the behavior to happen. In a classroom, an antecedent might be a teacher asking a question to the class; at home, it could be a parent setting a breakfast plate on the table.
Behavior
This is the response or action taken by the individual following the antecedent. For example, a child might answer a teacher’s question or may begin eating their breakfast. Behavior is what we observe directly and can measure in terms of frequency, duration, and intensity.
Consequence
This follows the behavior and can either encourage or discourage the likelihood of the behavior occurring again. Positive consequences, like praise or rewards (“Great answer!” or “Thank you for eating all of your breakfast!”), can reinforce the behavior, increasing the chance it will happen again under similar circumstances. Negative consequences, or punishments like harsh verbal corrections or loss of participation, might decrease the likelihood of the behavior recurring.