Your autistic child is a wellspring of potential, and while you may see the benefits of ABA therapy techniques during sessions, integrating those same strategies at home can help reinforce progress, encourage consistency, and create meaningful growth in everyday routines.
Even if your child is already enrolled in in-home ABA therapy with a skilled ABA therapist, you can still take ABA therapy practices into your own hands as a parent. By using these three, proven, ABA therapy techniques at home you can provide your child powerful opportunities for growth every day!
1. Generalization Training
How it Helps:
One of the key goals of ABA therapy is to help children apply learned behaviors in different settings and with different people. This is where generalization training comes in to ensure that skills your child learns during in-home ABA therapy sessions does not just stay in those sessions, but anywhere your child goes.
Try This at Home:
For example, if your child reaches for a toy but seems unsure how to access it, gently prompt them to say or indicate “help,” then immediately assist them and offer praise or a small reward. Over time, your child will begin to generalize this skill across different situations without needing a prompt.
2. Positive Reinforcement
How it Helps:
Positive reinforcement is the foundation of many ABA therapy techniques and heavily used by ABA therapists as a way to encourage desired behaviors by immediately rewarding them, helping children understand what actions are positive, effective, and worth repeating. Through positive reinforcement you’re helping your child understand which actions are helpful, safe, or appropriate–encouraging them to repeat those behaviors over time.
Try This at Home:
This simple, yet powerful ABA therapy technique at home is perhaps one of the easiest to integrate into your child’s routine. When your child follows a direction, like putting toys away or using a communication device, immediately reward them with praise, a favorite toy, or a small treat. Be specific in your language and praise. For example, you could say, “Great job putting your blocks away! I love how you listened!”.
3. Task Analysis
How it Helps:
Task analysis is a powerful ABA therapy practice used by parents and ABA therapists alike to break down complex tasks into smaller, manageable steps. This makes learning feel less overwhelming and more achievable for your child. This method helps build independence and confidence.
Try This at Home:
When encouraging your child to perform everyday tasks just break those tasks down into simple steps. For example, brushing their teeth. You could say “Step one, pick up your toothbrush. Step two, put toothpaste on the brush…” and so on. It seems simple, but it is an essential ABA therapy practice that can have major benefits!
Get in Touch With Compassionate ABA Therapists Now
At Growing Minds Behavioral Health, we are here to offer in-home ABA therapy that meets your child where they are–literally and developmentally. By providing compassionate, ABA therapy techniques and support right in the comfort of your home, our goal is to help your child build meaningful skills in their natural environment while empowering you as a parent every step of the way.
Get in touch with us to learn more about ABA therapy at home and techniques you can try outside of sessions.
