Non-compliance behavior is when a child refuses to comply with a request or do a task that the child can do and after the child has had sufficient processing time to understand the request. Non-compliance is typically an ‘escape’ or avoidance behavior and often occurs with homework and other seatwork tasks. Examples include ignoring the request and continuing with what the child wants to do instead, verbal protesting (such as “No! I don’t want to do that!”), and can also include other behaviors such as aggression or bolting.
Teaching the child to appropriately delay a task (e.g., “May I have one more minute to play with my toy first”?), breaking down a task into more manageable chunks, incorporating physical movement activities between tasks, and setting up a predictable system of breaks from tasks, are just a few of the strategies that can be used to help decrease noncompliance.
Use the downloadable data sheet below to help track the frequency of a specific behavior:
