ABA therapy is the most common type of parent-aid for the autistic and developmentally delayed. While heavy focus is put on therapy provided by the therapist or behavior technician, little focus is put on but just as critical to ABA is parent training. Parent training classes teach parents and caregivers skills and information necessary to evoke learning, reduce problem behavior, and establish a secure and healthy home environment.
Why Parent Training Works
The most effective ABA treatment is when it happens every day on a regular basis over the duration of a child’s life. A child can be seen by therapists a few hours a week, but parents daily. Parent training enables them to take those skills home, to school, and out into communities.
Parental involvement leads to:
- Increased treatment success
- Increased family satisfaction
- Successful long-term child
- Enhanced family communication and bonding
After the parents have learned of ABA and how ABA is applied, the parents become part of the treatment team.
What is Parent Training in ABA?
ABA parent training is professionally developed, instructor training where the parents are taught to apply behavior analysis procedures correctly. They are typically trained under the supervision of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and are designed specifically based on the family’s and child’s needs.
Some of the most likely topics of discussion are:
- Learning ABA fundamentals
- Learning observation, measurement, and marking of the behavior
- Positive reinforcement techniques
- Behavior management problem
- Saying a new thing (play, communication, self-care, etc.)
- Construction of formal routines
- Generalization of skills to the real world
Session can be in-person, home, clinic, or virtual, depending on provider.
Master Skills That Are Pretty Much Taught in ABA Parent Training
1. Data Collection and Behavior Observation
Parents are observing in a neutral manner as to the child’s behavior. This takes skill to monitor this information and it’s useful when searching for patterns and effective intervention design.
2. Positive Reinforcement
Reinforcement is one of ABA’s four giant pillars.Maybe a child is just the right fit for rule following or a token system for the exchange of work a day.
3. Reducing Challenging Behaviors
The majority of children that are being admitted for ABA therapy are admitted to tantrum, refusal, or aggression. Parent training is to be consistent and also calm as parents. Planned ignoring, redirection, and functional communication training are some of the skills that one learns on how to respond to others appropriately.
4. Teaching Functional Communication
ABA involves training of two modes of communication instruction, i.e., verbal and non-verbal. Parents instruct the employment of language to be copied and they initiate picture exchange systems (PECS) or adaptive devices as required. Communication serves to reduce frustration and improve the skill of a child in communicating emotion and needs.
5. Instruction of Daily Living Skills
From brushing teeth to snack food preparation, step by step parenting is preparing step by step children for solo behaviors in daily living skills. It develops a child’s sense of self-efficacy and decreases parents’ reliance.
6. Structure and Routine Building
Parents learn to create routine habits, use visual schedules, and create structured environments that are associated with calmness, attention, and learning skills.
Administration of Parent Training
Formats include:
- 1:1 Coaching Sessions: Individual coaching by BCBA for modeling and training.
- Group Workshops: Group training of the parents so that they interact with and learn from them.
- In-Home Observation: Real-time observation of interaction with immediate feedback from the therapist.
- Telehealth Sessions: Convenience-based training through video conferencing application.
Monitoring is constant so that training never gets outdated and is modified as and when needed.
Parent training programs advantages
1. Empowerment
Parents in general are unaware or confused about how they can assist their child. Empowers and trains clueproofs.
2. Consistency Across Environments
What is acquired in child therapy only if brought across in school, home, and community. Parent training is provided to ensure consistency on what is required and consequence and learning transfer across environments.
3. Better Family Relationships
Problem behavior promotes routine and relationship. Parent skills are acquired through training because attempts are made to decrease tension and conflict. Siblings are less tense also if home life is less tense and more predictable.
4. Improved Long Term Outcomes
ABA is most effective early and early and many times in a long term environment. Parent involvement promises best for long term success with behavior, communication, and activities of daily living.
Parent Strategies to Use When Implementing ABA Training
- Be Open to Learning: ABA might be composed of new, new concepts which are maybe new from the old parenting.
- Ask Questions: Never ever be afraid of asking your BCBA to explain.
- Practice Daily: Practice the skill every day at home to track the changes.
- Get Involved: Go to sessions, collaborate with your therapy staff, and actively engage in your child’s life to get them to be successful.
Looking for ABA therapy in Utah? Ever Reach ABA offers personalized in-home ABA services to support your child’s growth and development in a familiar, comfortable setting.
Conclusion
Parent ABA training is not an afterthought but a key to success. Equipping parents with good evidence-based skills through ABA training gives a child a good foundation that reinforces learning, decreases problem behavior, and improves the quality of life in a child. With professionals and parents, the future is limitless for development.