Behavior Decoder
Not sure what your child’s behavior is trying to tell you? The Behavior Decoder helps you make sense of common challenges by offering clear, culturally grounded insights and next steps, without judgment or jargon.​
Disclaimer: This tool does not provide a diagnosis or clinical evaluation. It offers general, research-informed guidance to support your understanding. For a full assessment, please get in touch with a licensed professional or reach out to NRPA for local referrals
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🔹 Scenarios & Sample Questions
1. Acting Out at School but Not at Home
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“Why my child keep actin’ up at school but be fine at home?”
“The teacher say he talk back and don’t follow directions — what does that mean?”
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2. Shutting Down or Withdrawing
“My daughter don’t talk no more in class. She used to love learning — what’s going on?”
“She’s always tired and just stares out the window. Could something be wrong?”
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3. Big Emotions, Big Reactions
“He go from 0 to 100 over small stuff — is this normal?”
“What do I do when my son gets mad and starts yelling or throwing stuff?”
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4. Struggles with Focus or Staying Seated
“They say my child got ADHD — but what does that mean for real?”
“He won’t sit still in class — how can I help him focus?”
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5. Behavior After Trauma or Big Changes
“Her daddy got locked up last month and now she actin’ out — what should I do?”
“We moved schools, and now he hates going — how do I help him adjust?”
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6. School Suspensions
“He’s only 8 and already got suspended twice — what’s really goin’ on?”
“They say it’s ‘defiance’ but he don’t even know what that mean. Help me understand.”
7. Possible Learning or Developmental Differences
“The school mentioned an evaluation — what are they lookin’ for?”
“He’s behind in reading — could that be causing his frustration?”