If your child is receiving ABA services, you might hear the term “Behavior Intervention Plan” or “BIP.” It can sound technical, but at its heart, a BIP is just a personalized roadmap to help your child succeed, one step at a time.

We use BIPs when challenging behavior is getting in the way of learning, relationships, or safety. Rather than just reacting to the behavior, we step back and try to understand why it’s happening in the first place. That understanding helps us build a plan that teaches your child better ways to meet their needs.

Why Do We Create a BIP?

Every behavior serves a purpose, even if it doesn’t look that way from the outside. A child might hit to avoid a difficult task, or run away to get someone’s attention. We use data and observation to find out the function of the behavior, and then we teach a new behavior that meets that same need in a safer, more appropriate way.

We don’t just want to stop the problem behavior. We want your child to get what they need, and we want them to learn new skills that stick long-term.

What’s in a Behavior Intervention Plan?

Each BIP is customized to your child. But in general, a strong plan includes:

• Clear descriptions of the behavior
  We define it in a way that is objective (only what we can see), clear (no guessing), and complete (with examples of what it is and what it’s not).
• The function of the behavior
  We ask: What is your child getting or avoiding when they do this behavior? The answer guides everything else.
• Replacement behavior
  This is what we’ll teach instead. It has to be something your child can do and that works for them. For example, if a child screams to escape a task, we might teach them to say “break please” or use a card or device to ask for help.
• Proactive strategies
  We make changes to the environment to help your child be successful. That might mean offering choices, breaking down instructions, or planning for transitions ahead of time.
• Consequence strategies
  These aren’t punishments. They’re consistent ways we respond when the behavior happens. Our goal is to reduce reinforcement for the problem behavior and increase reinforcement for the replacement one.
• Data collection and review
  We track how things are going so we can make adjustments. BIPs are meant to be living documents, not set in stone.

How Do We Use a BIP?

Once we have a plan, we walk through it with you, your child’s team, and anyone else involved in their care. Everyone needs to understand it and use it the same way for it to be effective.

And we don’t just hand you a document and walk away. We model strategies, practice them with you, and troubleshoot together. A good plan gets tested in real life, and adapted as your child grows and learns.

Can Parents Use BIP Ideas at Home?

Absolutely. Many of the strategies in a BIP are helpful for everyday parenting, even if you don’t use the formal language. Here’s how you can apply some of the same ideas:

• Try to notice why the behavior is happening. Is your child overwhelmed? Seeking attention? Avoiding something?
• Offer a safe, doable way for them to meet that need instead.
• Keep your expectations clear and consistent. Say what to do rather than just what not to do.
• Praise and reward the behaviors you want to see more of.

And remember, you don’t have to do this perfectly. You’re not expected to become a behavior analyst. Your role is to be a steady, loving presence, and to reach out when you need support. That’s what we’re here for.