Keep non-food items out of the mouth during activities
When to use this goal
For young students who mouth or chew crayons, small manipulatives, or sensory-bin materials, when the team has ruled out pica as a medical concern and provided a safe chewing alternative. Measures continuous time without mouthing during an activity with small items. Base the choice on duration recording and the OT's input.
- Baseline
- Time the longest stretch without mouthing during 5 activities and count mouthing events. Ask the nurse and family about pica history and dietary factors; if items are swallowed, this is a medical and safety plan matter, not only a goal. Have the OT choose the chewable and recommend sensory supports.
- Tips
- The chewable is a replacement, not a reward; it should be available all the time. Choose materials that are too large to swallow until the goal is met. Reinforce stretches of hands-only use. If mouthing is a sensory need, the OT's plan comes first and this goal measures the behavior under that plan.
- Limits
- Mouthing that happens outside structured activities is not captured. A student with confirmed pica needs a medical and safety plan and this goal alone is not enough.
Original IEP Atlas template based on general measurement principles; not copied from any goal bank. ID bh-saf-023.
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Goal
By the annual IEP review date, during a 10-minute table activity with small manipulatives and a safe chewable available, the student will use the materials with the hands only, keeping non-food items out of the mouth independently for at least 8 minutes, on 4 of 5 consecutive recorded activities, as measured by duration recording collected daily during one activity with small items.
Baseline: 1 minutes.
- Condition
- Observable behavior
- Criterion
- Measurement method
Measurability check11 of 11 met
Met: Observable behavior. Stated as an action.
Met: Condition. Stated.
Met: Unit fits the behavior. Duration fits this behavior.
Met: Explicit criterion. Number and unit stated.
Met: Mastery rule and schedule. Both stated.
Met: Method produces the metric. Duration recording gives duration data.
Met: Review timeframe. Stated.
Met: Baseline and target compatible. Same unit, change in the right direction.
Met: Aligned with area of need. Still about Safety Behaviors.
Met: Level of support. Defined.
Met: Blanks filled in. Nothing left to fill in.
Checks structure and wording only. Whether the goal fits the student is the team's call.
Short-term objectives (optional)
When are objectives required?Required for students on alternate assessments (34 CFR §300.320(a)(2)(ii)); some states require them for everyone.
Paste into your IEP system
Most district systems have a separate box for each part of a goal. Copy them one at a time, or all at once as labeled text.
- Area of need
- Behavior & Classroom Expectations - Safety Behaviors
- Baseline
- 1 minutes.
- Annual goal385 characters
- By the annual IEP review date, during a 10-minute table activity with small manipulatives and a safe chewable available, the student will use the materials with the hands only, keeping non-food items out of the mouth independently for at least 8 minutes, on 4 of 5 consecutive recorded activities, as measured by duration recording collected daily during one activity with small items.
- Timeframe
- By the annual IEP review date
- Condition
- During a 10-minute table activity with small manipulatives and a safe chewable available
- Behavior
- The student will use the materials with the hands only, keeping non-food items out of the mouth independently
- Criteria
- For at least 8 minutes, on 4 of 5 consecutive recorded activities
- Evaluation method
- Duration recording
- Schedule
- Daily during one activity with small items
Copied as plain text, with straight quotes and plain dashes.
Matching data sheet
Duration tracker. Records start and end times.
Duration tracker
Duration- Student label:
- Target:
- for at least 8 minutes
- Mastery rule:
- on 4 of 5 consecutive recorded activities
- Collection schedule:
- daily during one activity with small items
- Method:
- Duration recording
- Data collector:
Goal: By the annual IEP review date, during a 10-minute table activity with small manipulatives and a safe chewable available, the student will use the materials with the hands only, keeping non-food items out of the mouth independently for at least 8 minutes, on 4 of 5 consecutive recorded activities, as measured by duration recording collected daily during one activity with small items.
| Date | Activity / context | Start time | End time | Duration (minutes) | Target duration | Support levele.g., independent, 1 verbal prompt | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preview shows 4 of 12 rows.
- Start timing when the defined behavior begins and stop when it ends, using the definitions agreed by the team.
- The goal is reached when duration is at least the target (8 minutes).
- Note interruptions that weren't caused by the student.
The CSV opens in Excel or Google Sheets, with formulas. Sheets print blank; no student data is stored.