What is nonverbal communication? In part, it is body language. Think about meeting someone for the first time, first impressions matter, which is why we wear our best outfit, give a firm handshake, walk with our heads up and shoulders back. Think about the last job interview you went to. You sat facing the interviewer Read more about Nonverbal Communication[…]
Follow Instructions? You love working on arts & crafts projects and are currently working on a card for the holidays, “Pass me the scissors!” you state to your partner sitting across the table from you. A furnace needs some cleaning and maintenance before the season changes – “Can you give me the screwdriver?” the HVAC Read more about Following 1-Step Instructions[…]
Having trouble with or feeling timid about transitioning your client with autism from diapers to the toilet? Fret not! Follow the steps below – it’s the approach we’ve used for many years to successfully toilet train our clients. Remember: Be patient, be consistent and be your kiddos biggest cheerleader as she learns to use the Read more about Toilet Training 101[…]
Parents all have goals about what they’d like their kids to do and have in adulthood. Perhaps they imagine their daughter as an esteemed marine biologist who writes books and owns estates around the world. Or maybe their goal for their son, who has special needs, is to live in a nice home with friends or by himself and have a job he really enjoys. It is our job to help set our students and families up for success in the future. In order to do this, we need to start grooming their independence skills when they are young. We want to help ensure that our clients will be proficient at taking care of themselves to the best of their abilities by the time they are grown up and ready to leave home.
Once a student is a pro with beginner’s self-care tasks, incrementally delve into the more advanced targets that follow. If your kiddo struggles with learning life skills, then be sure to employ the recommended teaching tools and tips. […]
In the first year of children’s lives, they rely on their parents and caregivers for everything. As children approach 2 years of age, however, the journey towards independence should start with teaching them how to do simple self care tasks, such as using the potty and taking off their hats. We encourage starting to Read more about How To Teach A Young Child Self Care Skills[…]
So often, we take for granted that kids like to play. We buy them toys, arrange play dates, and even take them to parks and public areas, all in the name of playing. No one doubts the importance of play on a child’s development. It builds confidence, social skills, creativity, and imagination. But what happens Read more about 5 Steps to Teaching Play Skills[…]
Parents often hesitate to remove their child from preschool or daycare in order for the child to receive 1:1 ABA. Understandably, parents want their children around typical peers and for them to learn in a natural classroom environment, and sometimes that is appropriate. So why would we recommend for a child to receive 1:1 ABA Read more about 6 Skills a Child Needs to Be Ready to Learn in a Group[…]
Social skills is a common area that we tackle within an ABA program. Why is ABA the right approach to use when teaching social skills? Because in an ABA program we use behavioural objectives that are: Very specific in their content. For example, a goal might be “reciprocates greetings from peers” and not “greetings” Definable Read more about How to Use ABA to Teach Social Skills[…]
Balancing My Roles of “Behaviour Analyst” and “Mom” The two roles of “Behaviour Analyst” and “Mom” can sometimes be difficult to merge. On the one hand, knowing so much about the principles of behaviour, I should have all the tools I need to manage behaviour in my home. You would think that my home is Read more about 6 ABA Strategies I Use in My Home (And Why a Reinforcement System Isn’t One of Them!)[…]
…And Why Do I Need One? I’ve been noticing lately that there are many practitioners who claim to “practice ABA” or “use the principles of ABA” that aren’t actually Board Certified Behaviour Analysts. Often, when searching for solutions for children, parents are unaware of what qualifications they should be looking for. If someone is able Read more about What is a BCBA?[…]