ABA therapy or Applied Behavior Analysis therapy helps children with autism build important skills step by step while encouraging positive behaviors. It’s a structured, personalized approach that focuses on your child’s unique needs.
One of the best parts? Every small win is tracked and celebrated, so you can see real progress. With a clear plan and caring support, ABA helps kids grow and thrive, giving parents peace of mind that their child is in good hands.
The Clubhouse offers ABA therapy services in Illinois for children at every stage of their development. Our team aims to give your child the tools they need to reach their developmental goals. From communication skills and improved behavior to school readiness and socialization, we are here to help them grow!
Get Started With ABA Therapy Today!
What to Expect During Your Child’s ABA Therapy Journey?
Every child is unique so we design our therapy to fit their needs. With personalized strategies, we help your child build the skills they need to grow and succeed.
Getting to Know Your Child
The first step in ABA therapy is understanding your child such as their unique behaviors, strengths, and challenges. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) leads this process by observing your child, talking with you, and using specialized assessment tools to gather insights.
They also monitor how your child communicates, reacts to their environment, and handles different situations. Personalized assessments like these are fundamental to making ABA therapy effective.
Creating Goals That Fit Your Child
After the assessment, therapists and families work together to build a plan that’s just right for your child. These goals are clear, focused, and made to meet your child’s specific needs.
For instance, a goal might be teaching your child to ask for their favorite toy using words, pictures, or gestures. The plan may focus on areas like communication, social skills, managing emotions, or becoming more independent in everyday tasks.
Research backs this approach. Setting thoughtful, goal-based plans helps kids reach important developmental milestones. Every goal has a purpose, ensuring each therapy session helps your child grow.
Working Together to Make Progress
Parents are a big part of ABA therapy. Therapists partner with families to ensure therapy strategies can also be applied at home and in daily life.
For example, they might teach you how to encourage positive behaviors at home or handle tricky situations when you’re out and about. Studies show that kids with autism do better when parents are actively involved in the process.
By working together, families and therapists create a supportive, confident team that helps children thrive beyond therapy sessions. This collaboration builds trust and ensures everyone is focused on helping your child succeed.
Breaking Down the ABA Therapy Process
Knowing what happens in an ABA therapy session can help you feel ready and confident to support your child’s progress.
Introduction Phase: Starting with The Basics
The introduction phase lays the groundwork for therapy. At this stage, the therapist and child work on building trust and forming a connection.
Why does trust matter? It creates a sense of safety and encourages collaboration, especially for kids.
For instance, a therapist might begin by engaging in a favorite game or exploring toys the child enjoys. This approach isn’t only fun. It allows the therapist to understand how the child communicates and reacts in various situations.
Moreover, research backs this up. A study in the Research in Psychotherapy journal found that kids who feel comfortable with their therapists are more focused and cooperative during sessions.
Alongside trust, this phase includes teaching basic skills. These might be small tasks like following simple directions, making eye contact, or using gestures to express needs.
Also, it’s similar to teaching a child to say “please” or “thank you” before moving on to bigger lessons. Remember, small steps build the foundation for bigger progress.
Skill Development: Building Communication, Social Skills, and Managing Behaviors
Once trust is established, therapy moves into skill development. This is where the real work begins, focusing on areas like communication, social interaction, and managing challenging behaviors.
For communication, the therapist helps the child learn how to express their needs. This might mean using words, gestures, or even assistive technology.
For instance, a nonverbal child could practice pointing to a picture of a cup when they’re thirsty. Overall, targeted communication techniques not only improve speech but also boost emotional well-being.
Social skills are another big focus. Through fun activities and imaginary play, the therapist helps the child practice skills like taking turns, sharing, or greeting others. Parents might start to notice their child waving goodbye or playing more cooperatively. These are all small but powerful signs of progress.
Generalization: Using Skills in Everyday Life
The end goal of ABA therapy is for children to apply their new skills in real-life situations. This final phase, known as generalization, helps kids apply what they’ve learned in everyday settings, such as school, the playground, or a grocery store. For example, a child who learns to ask for help during therapy might practice raising their hand in class to ask their teacher.
Parents and family also play a big role during this stage. Consistent reinforcement at home and in the community is key to making these skills last. Parent training programs are often incorporated, with therapists working directly with families. They share tips, practice real-life scenarios, and even join outings to provide hands-on support.
All in all, this phase is where everything comes together. Therefore, a parent might notice their child playing well with siblings or staying calm during frustrating moments.
These moments are proof that ABA therapy is working and that the child is gaining independence and adaptability. Generalization bridges the gap between therapy sessions and the real world, paving the way for long-term success.
What Happens During ABA Sessions?
A typical day in ABA therapy centers on building skills through play and practice. This can include:
Activities Designed Around Your Child’s Goals
Every ABA session is tailored to fit your child’s individual needs. Therefore, as we previously mentioned, therapists start by understanding your child’s goals.
Activities are then carefully planned, step by step, to support these goals. For example, a non-verbal child might work with sound-loaded picture books to develop speech sounds. Meanwhile, another child may practice taking turns during a board game.
When therapy is personalized, kids make bigger strides because it targets their unique strengths and challenges.
Furthermore, with a collaborative approach between occupational therapy and speech therapy, ABA therapy can also address sensory needs and motor skills. At Clubhouse, we facilitate a holistic approach to ABA therapy where all aspects of a child’s development are considered.
Get Started With ABA Therapy Today!
Encouraging Positive Behavior with Rewards
Positive reinforcement is a big part of ABA therapy. When your child does something great, they get rewarded right away in a way that’s meaningful to them.
This could be verbal praise, a high-five, a sticker, or even a favorite toy. For example, a therapist might say, “Amazing job sharing your toy!” while giving your child a small reward.
Studies show that these rewards help kids with autism strengthen positive behaviors such as positive social skills over time. A day-to-day example could be teaching a child to stay seated during dinner. You can do this by starting with small treats or praise until they feel confident and it becomes part of the routine.
Tracking Progress to Ensure Success
A key part of ABA therapy is tracking how your child is doing during each session. Therapists use tools like CentralReach to take detailed notes and create charts or graphs to monitor progress. These tools allow therapists to collect real-time data, such as how often a skill is performed or how long it takes to complete a task.
This data helps them see what’s working and adjust the approach if necessary. For example, if your child is quickly mastering a skill, they’ll move on to bigger challenges.
If progress slows down, therapists can use the data from these tools to pinpoint challenges and modify the plan to better support your child. A simple example might be tracking how often your child uses a new word in conversation, ensuring their communication skills continue to grow.
These tools can even generate visual reports, making it easier to share progress with parents and ensure everyone is aligned on goals. This ongoing feedback is essential for meaningful and measurable growth.
Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them
Despite the incredible progress ABA therapy can bring, it’s normal to face challenges along the way. Here are some common situations and strategies for overcoming them:
Managing Frustration or Resistance
It’s completely normal for kids to push back when faced with something new. This resistance often stems from feeling overwhelmed, uncertain, or even scared of failing.
For some children, the resistance may be more pronounced due to a condition like Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), a behavior profile often seen in autism. According to research published in the Sec. Special Educational Needs journal, kids with PDA might avoid demands due to high levels of anxiety, not defiance.
To help, start small. For example, if a child refuses to try a new food, don’t push a full meal. Instead, introduce the food in tiny, non-threatening ways, maybe let them touch or smell it first.
Use positive reinforcement when they engage, even slightly. Celebrate every little step! Frustration can also be softened with empathy. Saying, “I know this is hard, but I’m here to help,” can be reassuring and build trust.
Staying Consistent with Routines and Reinforcement Strategies
Consistency is key to helping kids feel secure. Studies in child psychology emphasize that predictable routines help reduce anxiety and improve cooperation.
Consider bedtime routines as an example. When a child knows that bath-time is always followed by story-time, they’re less likely to resist because they know what’s coming next.
Reinforcement strategies also work wonders. For instance, if you’re teaching a child to clean up toys, offer gentle praise or a small reward (like a sticker) each time they put one item away.
Over time, these positive associations can encourage them to repeat the behavior. Remember, consistency means sticking to the plan, even when progress feels slow—it’s the repetition that builds habits.
Dealing with Slow or Uneven Progress
Progress in children is rarely a straight line. Some days, it may feel like they’re making huge strides and other days, they might regress or stall.
This is completely normal. Research in developmental psychology reminds us that growth often happens in bursts, with plateaus in between.
Take potty training, for example. A child might stay dry for a week, only to start having accidents again. Instead of seeing this as a failure, think of it as part of the process.
Patience is crucial here. Celebrate the wins, no matter how small, and avoid shaming setbacks. Gentle encouragement, like saying, “It’s okay, let’s try again next time,” can keep their confidence intact.
Above all, remember that every child has their own pace. Slow progress doesn’t mean no progress. By staying patient, empathetic, and consistent, you’re helping lay the foundation for long-term growth.
Verdict: How Can You Support Your Child’s Growth with ABA Therapy?
ABA therapy is a proven way to help kids learn new skills and behaviors. It uses positive reinforcement, personalized goals, and parent involvement to help children reach their potential.
With patience and consistency, your child can make real progress and thrive. Celebrate every small win because every step forward matters! Whether it’s learning to communicate or building independence, ABA therapy is a great tool to support your child’s growth.
And we at The Clubhouse are always here to help. Our team of trained therapists and compassionate staff are dedicated to providing personalized ABA therapy services that best fit your child’s needs. Connect with us today and see how we can support your child’s journey towards growth and development!
