The Hidden Function of “Silly” Behavior

In this episode, I’m diving into something I see constantly in autism and special education classrooms: “silly” behavior.

The giggling, noises, dramatic movements, baby voices, and chaos energy can often look disruptive on the surface, but in many cases, there’s something much deeper happening underneath.

I’m talking about why silly behavior is often linked to regulation, anxiety, sensory needs, task avoidance, and connection seeking rather than simply “attention seeking.”

In this episode, I share:

The hidden functions behind silly behavior

Why autistic students may become the “class clown”

What behavior might actually be communicating

Practical, neuro-affirming ways to respond calmly and supportively

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering what’s really underneath those big silly moments in the classroom, this episode is for you.

✨ My favorite movement breaks mentioned in this episode:

Movement Break Cards

Yoga Cards

Dinosaur Movement Breaks

ALL My Movement Breaks (Including themes)

Free Ice Cream Movement Breaks

I've also put together a blog post that talks all about movement breaks, what they are and their benefits.