Rabbi Behavioral Support and Learning Center’s Intervention Approach

Behavior is a form of communication and has functions which is the reason or purpose as to why such particular behavior is used. In every behavior lies a reason why they occur. Children use behavior to show what they want and need even before they can talk and it takes on many forms such as crying, screaming, clapping, jumping, or squealing. Most of us then would come to misunderstand such behaviors as a simple attention-seeking when actually, it speaks something more.

A child shows behaviors because it is something important to them as they use it to seek out or avoid something or someone, needs interaction or help, express emotion, feeling or illness. Rather than scolding them, we instead should try to understand what and why these behaviors occur. Once understood, one can interpret what the behavior means and the reason. With that, we can create a connection with them and maybe further communicate with them and learn their interests, likes, and dislikes.

A child’s interest is never forced but is spontaneous and through this, we are able to make a connection with them. A child who finds people being interested in them and of what they do makes them give a little attention to their activity. Instead, they give more attention to us and even initiate interaction.

Rabbi believes that the early years of the child are for development. During this stage, the child manifests various challenging behaviors, which, if not given proper intervention, the behaviors manifested would aggravate as they get older.

Armed with our Mission and Vision as our backbone, we aim to help the children cope and adapt to the different environments they move in, regardless of their differences, to make other people understand, respect, and accept them in society. In order to achieve this goal, Rabbi uses a mix of techniques and approaches which target a specific scope beneficial in the development of the child.

Rabbi also aims for the children to overcome behaviors so they will be able to adapt and cope; teach them to use another form of communication that would allow them to easily express to others; teach children to manage and regulate their emotions to help them respond better and; teach them to develop social skills.

Rabbi uses Data Gathering to collect data from the child through play, which would aid in understanding the child. Our teachers dedicate their time and effort to knowing their students and building trust between them and the child. Teachers are also tasked with documenting day-to-day progress and what transpired per session how, when, duration, and why such behaviors manifest. Once the teachers are able to establish rapport with the child, they will be able to properly interpret the behaviors which would allow them to give the proper and effective individualized program fitting for the child and applied through one-on-one behavioral training. Unlike the traditional approach, Rabbi uses proactive approaches, by designing a way to address and reduce the likelihood of behavior instead of waiting for it to happen or to intensify, and identify the level of support necessary for the child.

Apart from child intervention, Rabbi also involves parents through parent training, seminars, and workshops. Teachers also give parents suggestions from time to time of what activities they can do in their homes. Rabbi believes that parents are the major key players in their child’s development and such responsibility is not placed on the teacher’s shoulder who are providing intervention.

Behavior should not be ignored. It is important to children that we adults understand their behavior as it makes them feel important and valued. This allows them to become confident in making themselves understood as they learn to communicate their feelings, needs, and wants without boundaries. For parents, it is important to understand children’s behaviors because this is how we build caring relationships with the child and helps us to learn to take time before reacting to behaviors so that we may respond properly.

Finally, pausing and recognizing the “why” of a child’s behavior helps us learn what skills children need and what help we can provide to them so they could learn. This is the goal of Rabbi’s Intervention Approach - building a better tomorrow by filling in the gap of misunderstanding and create a connection between parents and the child.