Adaptive Behaviour of Children and Related Factors

Abstract

Adaptive behaviour may be defined as the performance of the. daily activities required for personal and social sufbciency. Three important principles are inherent in this definition of adaptive behaviour. First, adaptive behaviour is age related. Adaptive behaviour increases and beeomes more complex as one grows older. For younger children, activities such as dressing and getting along with playmates are important. For adults holding a job and man-aging money are necessary. Secondly, adaptive behaviour is defined by the expectations and standards of other people. The adequacy of an individual's adaptive behaviour is judged by those who live, wrok and interact with the individual. Finally, adaptive behaviour is defined by typical performance, not ability. While ability is ncessary for the performance of daily activities, an individual's adaptive behaviour is inadequate if the ability is not demonstrated when it is required. For example, if a person has the ability to perform according to basic rules of safety and verbalizes the rules when asked, but seldom follows them, adaptive behaviour is considered to be inadequate in that area. Thus, adaptive behaviour is the skill of social and personal sufficiency enacted through daily activities which grow from simple to complex. To find out the levels of adaptice behaviour in the children of crucial age ( 6-7 years), a study had been undertaken with the following specific objectives. Adaptive