Bee CLUES
Follow the Clues Behind Behavior
Behavior is not the whole story. It is a clue. Bee CLUES helps parents notice patterns, triggers, sensory needs, anxiety signs, communication gaps, and missing skills.
Observe → Look for patterns → Try supports → Teach the next skill
Behavior is information.
When a child is yelling, refusing, running, crying, shutting down, or melting down, the goal is not to label the child as difficult. The goal is to ask:
Clue map
What Could Be Going On?
Tap each clue like a quick parent checklist. Rule out what does not fit. Mark the most likely clue. Then try one simple support.
Safety clue
Check this area. Rule it out or mark it most likely.
Your quick clue board
Ruled out
Nothing ruled out yet.
Most likely
Choose one clue to try first.
Start here
Bee CLUES Tools
Use the Behavior Clue Tracker now. More clue tools are coming soon.
Behavior Clue Tracker
Track what happened before, what happened after, possible needs, supports tried, and behavior patterns over time.
Open the tracker →Trigger Clues
Notice what tends to happen before big reactions, refusals, shutdowns, or meltdowns.
Sensory Clues
Look for sound, light, texture, movement, hunger, tiredness, and body based clues.
Anxiety Clues
Spot worry signs, avoidance patterns, uncertainty stress, perfectionism, and fear of mistakes.
Communication Clues
Find moments where a child may need a clearer way to say help, break, no, all done, wait, or too much.
Replacement Skill Builder
Turn the clue into a skill to teach, such as asking for help, requesting a break, waiting, or using a calm strategy.
Pattern Finder
Look across days and routines to find repeating patterns and possible next supports.
Trusted resources
Resources That Help You Follow the Clues
These resources support a problem solving approach: observe what happened, look for the likely reason, choose a support that matches the need, and teach the next skill when the child is ready.
AFIRM Functional Behavior Assessment
Functional Behavior Assessment helps adults look for the purpose or function behind a behavior so support can match the need.
Visit resource → Choosing supportsAFIRM Selecting an Evidence Based Practice
A helpful guide for moving from a concern to a possible evidence based support, including FBA and functional communication.
Visit resource → Autism evidence baseNCAEP Autism Evidence Based Practices
A major autism evidence review that supports practices such as FBA, visual supports, task analysis, AAC, social narratives, and self management.
Visit resource → Lagging skillsLives in the Balance ASUP
Ross Greene’s tools help adults identify lagging skills and unsolved problems instead of assuming a child is simply being difficult.
Visit resource → DevelopmentCDC Child Development
Child development resources can help families think about age, development, skills, changes, delays, and when to ask for more support.
Visit resource → Body cluesAutism Research Institute GI & Behavior
Body based issues like constipation, GI discomfort, sleep, pain, illness, or feeding changes can sometimes show up as behavior.
Visit resource →FAQ
Bee CLUES FAQ
What is Bee CLUES?
Bee CLUES helps you look underneath behavior. Instead of asking "How do I stop this behavior?" we ask "What is this behavior trying to communicate?" The goal is pattern finding, support, and skill building.
What should I track first?
Start with the behavior causing the most stress right now. Track when it happens, where it happens, what happened before, what happened after, and what support helped.
How long should I track before looking for patterns?
Seven days is a good starting point. Many families begin noticing patterns related to transitions, sensory overload, hunger, sleep, anxiety, communication challenges, or specific routines.
What are the most common clues behind behavior?
Common clues include sensory overload, communication frustration, anxiety, pain, illness, hunger, tiredness, difficult transitions, unclear expectations, and missing skills. More than one factor may be involved.
What if I cannot find a pattern?
That is completely normal. Sometimes patterns are hidden. Keep tracking, simplify your observations, and consider body based factors such as sleep, illness, pain, constipation, hunger, medication changes, or sensory stress.
How do I know if behavior is sensory related?
Look for patterns involving noise, crowds, bright lights, clothing, food textures, movement, waiting, or busy environments. Sensory clues often appear before meltdowns, shutdowns, avoidance, or aggression.
Could anxiety be causing the behavior?
Yes. Anxiety can look like refusal, perfectionism, avoidance, repetitive questions, shutdowns, aggression, or a strong need for predictability. Many children show anxiety through behavior long before they can describe it with words.
What if my child cannot tell me what is wrong?
Many children communicate through behavior before they can explain their feelings. Your observations become valuable clues. Track what happened, what changed, and what support seemed to help.
After I find a clue, what should I do next?
Try one support at a time. Use visual schedules, First Then boards, choice boards, regulation supports, communication tools, or teach a replacement skill. Small changes are easier to evaluate than changing everything at once.
When should I contact a doctor or therapist?
Contact a professional if behavior changes suddenly, involves safety concerns, self injury, aggression, eating changes, sleep changes, pain, illness, loss of skills, or if you are worried something medical may be contributing.
Is my child giving me a hard time?
Most children want to do well. When a child is struggling, Bee CLUES encourages us to ask what is getting in the way: a sensory challenge, anxiety, communication need, missing skill, body need, or environmental stressor.
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