How to Support Your Child’s ABA Therapy at Home

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Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is an evidence-based approach designed to teach meaningful skills and reduce challenging behaviors. It’s a proven treatment for people with a variety of diagnoses, and is widely considered to be the most effective therapy modality for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). 

Learners experience maximum gain from ABA therapy interventions when it is applied across multiple environments, including their home, school, and community settings – which means they benefit most when their therapeutic team and caregivers work in concert. But can parents do ABA at home? Absolutely.

In a previous article, we took a deep dive into why it’s important for caregivers to be involved in an autistic learner’s ABA therapy journey, so in this article we’ll address how to practice ABA therapy at home. Let’s go!

Practicing Applied Behavior Analysis at Home

ABA strategies for parents and caregivers will look a bit different depending on a learner’s age, maturity and personality, communication style and abilities, and how many hours they spend in therapy weekly or period of time they’ve been engaged in therapy. Tailoring strategies to your learner’s stage of development is key to maximizing the impact of therapy while fostering independence and confidence.

Here we’ve listed 10 ABA techniques for parents to use at home, including examples of how they may play out for early learners and older ages. These strategies are intended to empower you to reinforce ABA principles, ensuring greater progress and a supportive home environment.

If you need help in adapting these to suit your learner, or would benefit from specific guidance regarding these or other techniques, reach out to your Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) or Registered Behavior Technician (RBT). Your therapy team is here to support you and your family.

Two male adults sit on floor next to young girl while one of the adults high fives the girl

1. Use Positive Reinforcement

Celebrate your learner’s successes, big or small, by offering praise, rewards, or preferred activities. This reinforces desired behaviors and motivates them to continue learning.

Examples

Younger Children: Toilet Training

  • Immediate Reward: Praise or give a small treat every time they successfully use the potty.
  • Create a Sticker Chart: Add a sticker for each success, with a larger reward after earning a set number.
  • Celebrate Enthusiastically: Use clapping, cheering, or a favorite song to reinforce their efforts.

Older Kids/Teens: Learning to Save Money

  • Set a Goal: Help them identify a savings goal, like buying a video game.
  • Reinforce Progress: Each time they save a certain amount, provide positive feedback or a small reward, like an extra outing or praise.
  • Celebrate Milestones: When they reach their goal, celebrate their achievement with encouragement and recognition of their effort.

2. Provide Prompts

Use verbal, visual, or physical cues and checklists to guide your learner in completing tasks or responding to instructions. Gradually reduce prompts as they gain independence.

Examples

Younger Children: Getting Dressed

  • Start with Verbal Prompts: “First put on your socks, then your shoes.”
  • Use Visual Aids: Show pictures of each step or lay out clothing in order.
  • Offer Physical Assistance: Help guide their hand to pull up a zipper or button a shirt if needed.

Older Kids/Teens: Practicing Public Transportation

  • Start with Verbal Prompts: “You’ll need to check the bus schedule before you leave.”
  • Add Visual Prompts: Use maps, printed schedules, or a transit app to guide them.
  • Gradually Fade Prompts: Encourage them to navigate the route independently over time.

3. Create a Routine

Structure your learner’s day with predictable routines. Use a visual schedule with pictures of daily tasks or use digital tools, like a calendar app or written planner, to help them track their own schedule. ABA thrives on consistency, which helps reduce anxiety and improves learning opportunities.

Examples

Younger Children: Bedtime Routine

  • Establish Steps: Bath, pajamas, brushing teeth, and a bedtime story.
  • Use Visual Cues: A chart with pictures representing each activity.
  • Stick to the Routine: Maintain consistency to help them feel secure and prepared for bed.

Older Kids/Teens: Evening Routine

  • Set a Schedule: Create a routine such as dinner, 30 minutes of leisure, personal hygiene, and bedtime.
  • Use Visual or Digital Aids: Provide a checklist or alarms as reminders.
  • Reinforce the Routine: Consistently follow it, adjusting as needed to accommodate their preferences.

4. Practice Skills in Real-Life Settings

Reinforce ABA-taught skills, such as communication or social interaction, during everyday activities like playdates and grocery shopping.

Examples

Younger Children: Saying “Thank You”

  • Model the Behavior: Say “thank you” in front of them during interactions.
  • Practice Together: Prompt them to say “thank you” when someone hands them a snack.
  • Reinforce the Behavior: Offer praise or a high-five when they use the phrase independently.

Older Kids/Teens: Grocery Shopping

  • Plan Ahead: Write a shopping list together.
  • Assign Roles: Have them find items on the list and compare prices.
  • Practice Checkout: Let them interact with the cashier and manage payment if possible.

Family grocery shopping together

5. Break Down Tasks

Simplify complex activities into smaller, manageable steps. This makes learning less overwhelming and builds confidence.

Examples

Younger Children: Cleaning Up Toys

  • Start Small: “Let’s pick up all the red blocks first.”
  • Add Steps Gradually: After the blocks, move on to books or stuffed animals.
  • Praise Completion: Acknowledge their effort with, “You did a great job putting everything away!”

Older Kids/Teens: Learning to Cook a Meal

  • Choose a Recipe: Select a simple dish, like spaghetti.
  • Gather Ingredients: Create a shopping list, check for items, or shop together.
  • Prepare Ingredients: Chop, measure, and organize ingredients.
  • Cook: Follow the recipe step-by-step.
  • Serve and Clean Up: Plate the food and clean the workspace.

6. Track Progress

Keep a log of your learner’s achievements and challenges using a journal or app. Sharing this data with your ABA therapist ensures targeted and effective strategies.

Examples

Younger Children: Learning to Use Utensils

  • Log Successes: Keep a note of how often they use a fork or spoon correctly.
  • Visual Progress: Create a progress chart with smiley faces for each successful attempt.
  • Review Together: Show them the chart and celebrate their improvement with a favorite activity.

Older Kids/Teens: Learning to Exercise Regularly

  • Set a Goal: Agree on a fitness target, like walking for 20 minutes.
  • Log Activities: Track each session in a journal or fitness app.
  • Review Progress Together: Celebrate milestones and adjust goals based on their performance.

7. Encourage Communication

Whether your learner uses words, signs, or a communication device, foster their ability to express needs and feelings. Avoid anticipating their needs without prompting communication attempts. Role-play conversations as appropriate, practicing phrasing questions or expressing emotions clearly.

Examples

Younger Children: Requesting Help

  • Model Requests: Demonstrate saying, “Can you help me, please?”
  • Use Picture Cards: If verbal language is challenging, provide cards with images representing common requests.
  • Reinforce Attempts: Even if they gesture or partially say the phrase, praise their effort to communicate.

Older Kids/Teens: Calling to Make an Appointment

  • Prepare a Script: Write down what to say, such as, “Hi, I’d like to book an appointment with Dr. Smith.”
  • Practice Together: Role-play the conversation until they feel confident.
  • Support as Needed: Be available for questions but let them handle the call.  

8. Foster Generalization

Help your child apply skills learned during therapy to other environments, such as school, family gatherings, or outings.

Examples

Younger Children: Using “Please” Across Settings

  • Practice at Home: Prompt them to say “please” when asking for juice or toys.
  • Expand to Public Settings: Encourage them to use “please” at a restaurant or store.
  • Praise in All Contexts: Reinforce whenever they apply the skill, regardless of location.

Older Kids/Teens: Budgeting Skills

  • Start Small: Teach them to allocate allowance for savings, spending, and donations.
  • Expand to Real-Life Situations: Apply these skills when shopping for gifts or planning outings.
  • Reinforce Across Contexts: Praise them for sticking to a budget, whether it’s for personal or group activities.

9. Enforce Rules Effectively

Be consistent with language, household rules, and follow-through; use logical consequences. Clear expectations help your learner understand boundaries, develop structure, and teach responsibility.

Examples

Younger Children: Sharing Toys

  • Set Simple Rules: Explain, “We take turns with toys so everyone gets a chance.”
  • Immediate Consequences: If they don’t share, gently remove the toy and explain why.
  • Reinforce Sharing: Praise them when they successfully share, e.g., “Great job letting your friend have a turn!”

Older Kids/Teens: Keeping a Clean Bedroom

  • Set Clear Expectations: Explain the rules, e.g., “Clothes go in the hamper, not on the floor.”
  • Apply Logical Consequences: If the room isn’t clean by a specific time, privileges like gaming or going out are postponed.
  • Provide Follow-Up: Offer reminders as needed but remain consistent with enforcement to build accountability.

10. Stay Involved with the ABA Team

Regularly communicate with your learner’s therapist about how you can do ABA therapy at home and in community settings. Understanding techniques and goals ensures alignment and continuity between therapy sessions and day-to-day life. Attend sessions for younger learners when possible, asking about strategies you can implement and ways you can make ABA therapy fun. Encourage your older learner to participate in meetings, as appropriate, and provide their input. 

Examples

Younger Children: Encouraging Play Skills

  • Learn Strategies: Ask the therapist for specific play techniques, like turn-taking games.
  • Apply at Home: Use these techniques during family game time or playdates.
  • Provide Feedback: Share how well your child engages at home and ask for adjustments to the plan if needed.

Older Kids/Teens: Aligning on Daily Living Skills Goals

  • Communicate Regularly: Share observations about their progress at home.
  • Collaborate on Strategies: Ask therapists for specific techniques to reinforce, like promoting independence with household chores.
  • Provide Feedback: Let the ABA team know what works well and what needs adjustment to improve outcomes.

Achieving Balance At Home

We know consistent implementation of ABA therapy techniques can be intimidating and overwhelming, especially if your learner has been recently diagnosed with autism, you’re new to ABA therapy, or they frequently present challenging behavior. 

We developed the Balance Program at A Bridge to Achievement especially for these reasons! Through Balance – our caregiver-led telehealth initiative – we support caregivers in their pursuit of harmony, joy and stability in the home. Connect with us to learn more about the Balance Program or our other ABA programs – or go ahead and request services. Support starts here.