When a child struggles to express themselves, frustration often shows up as tantrums, stubbornness, or other challenging behaviors. One of the most effective ways Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) helps children is by teaching them functional communication—giving them the tools to ask for what they need in a meaningful and appropriate way.
What is functional communication?
Functional communication simply means expressing needs, wants, thoughts, or feelings in ways that others can understand. For children, this might not always mean speaking in words. It could be pointing to a toy, using a picture card, signing, or even pressing a button on a communication device.
When children have effective ways to communicate, frustration decreases, problem behaviors reduce, and they gain confidence in navigating their world. This is why ABA therapists focus so strongly on building functional communication skills.
The Role of MAND in Communication
A MAND is one of the earliest and most important communication skills taught in ABA. It refers to a request—a child asking for what they want or need. Examples include:
► Saying, “I want water.”
► Handing a picture card for a favorite snack.
► Pulling an adult’s hand toward a toy shelf.
Why is this so important? Because many challenging behaviors (crying, screaming, throwing things) happen when a child doesn’t yet know how to ask. Once a child learns to communicate their needs, the pressure of frustration eases, and behaviors naturally begin to improve.
Why Parents Should Pay Special Attention to MANDs
As parents, you play a huge role in encouraging your child’s requests. Here are some points to keep in mind:
► Every request is a learning opportunity—don’t miss it.
► If parents anticipate every need, children may lose the motivation to communicate.
► Accidentally giving in to problem behaviors (like crying or yelling) instead of encouraging a request can reinforce the wrong pattern.
Being mindful of how requests happen in everyday life makes a big difference.
How Parents Can Support MANDs at Home
Here are some practical ways parents can encourage and strengthen MANDs:
♦ Wait for communication: Don’t immediately hand over what your child wants—give them a chance to request.
♦ Use gentle prompts: Model the word, gesture, or picture, then guide your child to use it.
♦ Reinforce immediately: If your child communicates, even imperfectly, respond right away by giving what they asked for.
♦ Set up opportunities: Place favorite toys just out of reach or give small snack portions, so your child naturally has to request more.
When to Seek Therapy
Parents should consider professional support if they notice:
• The child mostly relies on crying, pulling, or tantrums to get things.
• Communication progress seems very slow.
• Requests are very limited and don’t expand over time.
• Problem behaviors increase when demands are placed.
In such cases, structured intervention from an ABA therapist can provide the strategies needed to strengthen communication and reduce frustration.
The Therapist’s Role in Teaching MANDs
In therapy, professionals use structured methods to teach and reinforce MANDs. This includes shaping different communication forms—whether spoken words, sign language, PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System), or AAC devices. Therapists also work closely with parents to ensure that communication skills learned in sessions carry over into the home and school environment.
A Message to Parents
Every time your child makes a request—whether by word, sign, picture, or gesture—it is a powerful step toward independence. Functional communication is not about “fixing” behavior; it is about giving children a voice. With patience, consistency, and the right support, every child can learn to communicate in their own way.
