Child ABA Therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis has proven incredibly effective for kids diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from ages two to twelve with symptoms from mild to severe. ABA can help children flourish by meeting them at their level and enhancing developmental outcomes via play!
At ABA Centers of Delaware, we recognize that every neurodivergent child has exceptional talents and unique struggles. Our clients deserve much more than a template approach to therapy.
We personalize every intervention by focusing on a child’s future goals and dreams as we coach participation in every aspect of life. Unlike other treatment providers, we promote minimally intrusive programs encouraging untapped autonomy and self-discovery.
Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) design the ABA programs with critical data from a child’s experience. With this knowledge and expertise, they optimize ABA treatment outcomes to establish essential behaviors such as communication and social skills to help them advance through life.
Next, your child’s assigned Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) will complete their treatment program across ABA sessions. All ABA professionals receive licensure through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.
For toddlers and pre-K, ABA therapy is typically an all-day program for milestone development and school readiness. We strive to support all clients, accommodating every family and their needs.
Social Skills
Our program encourages the necessary communication skills to thrive, including:
- Regular encouragement to share toys while taking turns during play
- Exploring personal choices, reactions, and the expression of interest
- Engaging in social pretend play, such as preparing a meal or feeding animal toys
Visual & Perception Skills
Visual and perception skills are cornerstones for intelligence and development. We foster these skills by incorporating activities such as:
- Playing with puzzles
- Matching identical objects from a selection
- Playing memory games to retain visual information better
- Recognizing object similarities despite different sizes and colors, comparing and contrasting
- Playing games like “Where’s Waldo?” that focus on finding hidden objects within busy images
Coordination
Children with autism sometimes struggle with muscle development and body coordination. ABA therapy can help develop fine and gross motor skills with activities like:
- Playing with putty, clay, or slime
- Playing with Lego blocks
- Playing with marbles
- Opening snacks or plastic containers and closing them
- Watering plants with a squeeze bottle
- Cutting shapes with scissors
- Depositing coins into piggy banks
Letters & Numbers
ABA therapy improves academic performance by promoting elementary reading and writing skills, such as:
- Preparing for school by learning letters and numbers
- Scribbling or doing color exercises on paper
- Tracing activities to improve coordination
These exercises contribute to the development of handwriting proficiency while enhancing fine motor skills.
Better Coping
Living with autism has challenges. ABA therapy teaches children the skills necessary to control their emotional state. These skills include thinking through their choices, controlling impulses, and better understanding human behavior.
Daily Habits
Our therapists will guide your child through gradual steps to establish routines for their daily activities. ABA therapy teaches essential skills for starting the day independently, such as using the toilet, bathing, brushing teeth, and getting dressed.
The ABA Experience
All ABA therapy programs begin with an assessment by a BCBA. Your provider will evaluate the patterns and consider long-term goals. After spending time with your family to understand its dynamics and challenges, the BCBA will create an ABA treatment plan to improve your child’s development and meet their needs.
During ABA sessions, RBTs work with clients and their families, continually monitoring progress through review and helping them build essential skills. According to trends in behavior, milestones evolve to suit the client as they improve.
An official autism spectrum diagnosis is essential to acquiring ABA Therapy services. For objective assistance through the diagnostic process and autism testing, click here.
Child ABA Therapy Options Include:
- Autism Testing and Diagnosis Services
- In-Home ABA Therapy
- Parent Training
- Life, School, and Community Integration Skills
Positive Reinforcement in Child ABA Therapy
A child is more likely to repeat healthy behavior when a reward follows, which is why the critical element of ABA therapy is positive reinforcement. Over time, this encourages positive change and establishes new patterns.
During ABA sessions, a therapist identifies a goal behavior. Each time the child successfully demonstrates the behavior, they receive something specifically meaningful, such as:
- A book or toy
- Simple (but invaluable) praise
- Watching a video or playing a video game
- Access to the park or playground or favorite food
With continued practice, children blossom and replace inappropriate, counterproductive behavior with skills that will aid them throughout life.