5 ABA Techniques Parents Can Use at Home Today

parent tips aba at home practical guide

You do not need to be a therapist to use ABA techniques with your child. Many of the strategies used in Applied Behavior Analysis are practical, straightforward, and easy to work into your daily routines at home.

Whether your child is currently in ABA therapy or you are simply looking for evidence-based ways to support their development, these five techniques can make a real difference. Each one is explained in plain language with concrete examples you can try today.

1. Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is the foundation of ABA therapy, and it is something every parent can use. The idea is simple: when your child does something you want to see more of, you immediately follow it with something they find rewarding.

How It Works

The key to positive reinforcement is timing and consistency. The reward needs to come right after the desired behavior so your child makes a clear connection between what they did and the positive outcome.

Examples You Can Try

  • Your child puts their shoes on independently. You immediately say, “Great job putting your shoes on all by yourself!” and give them a high-five.
  • Your child uses words to ask for a snack instead of crying. You say, “I love how you asked nicely,” and promptly give them the snack.
  • Your child sits at the dinner table for five minutes. You praise their effort and let them pick the after-dinner activity.

Tips

  • Find out what motivates your child. Praise works for some kids, but others are more motivated by a favorite activity, a small treat, or time with a preferred toy.
  • Be specific with your praise. Instead of “Good job,” try “Good job putting your plate in the sink.” This helps your child understand exactly what they did well.
  • Reinforce the behavior every time at first, then gradually reduce the frequency as the behavior becomes consistent.

2. Prompting

Prompting is a way to help your child succeed by giving them a cue or hint when they are learning something new. Instead of waiting for your child to fail and then correcting them, prompting sets them up for success from the start.

Types of Prompts

  • Verbal prompts — Telling your child what to do. (“Say ‘please.’”)
  • Gestural prompts — Pointing or nodding toward the correct response.
  • Model prompts — Demonstrating the action you want your child to do. (Picking up a crayon and showing them how to color.)
  • Physical prompts — Gently guiding your child through the action. (Placing your hand over theirs to help them write a letter.)

How to Use Prompting at Home

Start with the level of prompt your child needs to be successful, then gradually reduce the amount of help you give over time. This process is called “fading,” and the goal is for your child to eventually complete the skill independently.

Example: You are teaching your child to wash their hands.

  • Week 1: You stand next to them and physically guide them through each step — turning on the water, pumping soap, rubbing hands together, rinsing, and drying.
  • Week 2: You stand nearby and give verbal reminders. “Now pump the soap. Good. Now rub your hands.”
  • Week 3: You simply say, “Go wash your hands,” and they complete the routine on their own.

3. Visual Schedules

Visual schedules use pictures, icons, or written words to show your child what is happening and what comes next. They are one of the most effective tools for reducing anxiety, increasing independence, and smoothing out daily transitions.

Why Visual Schedules Work

Many children — especially those with autism or other developmental needs — process visual information more easily than verbal instructions. A visual schedule takes the unpredictability out of the day and gives your child a clear roadmap to follow.

How to Create One

You do not need anything fancy. A visual schedule can be:

  • Pictures printed and attached to a strip of Velcro on the wall — Your child removes each picture as they complete the activity.
  • A simple checklist on a whiteboard — Written or drawn steps for a routine like getting ready for school.
  • A sequence of photos on a tablet or phone — Pictures of your child doing each step of a routine.

Example: Morning Routine Visual Schedule

  1. Wake up (picture of a bed)
  2. Use the bathroom (picture of a toilet)
  3. Get dressed (picture of clothes)
  4. Eat breakfast (picture of cereal)
  5. Brush teeth (picture of a toothbrush)
  6. Put on shoes (picture of shoes)
  7. Go to school (picture of a car or bus)

Tips

  • Start with a short schedule covering one routine (like morning or bedtime) before expanding to the full day.
  • Let your child participate in making the schedule when possible — this increases their investment in following it.
  • Be consistent. Use the schedule every day so it becomes a reliable part of your child’s routine.

4. Task Analysis

Task analysis is the process of breaking a complex task into smaller, manageable steps. If your child is struggling with a multi-step activity, it may not be that they cannot do it — it may be that the task has too many parts and they need it broken down.

How to Break Down a Task

Think about a skill your child is working on — getting dressed, cleaning up toys, making a sandwich — and list every individual step involved. You may be surprised at how many small steps make up a task we think of as simple.

Example: Getting Dressed

  1. Pick out a shirt from the drawer
  2. Put arms through the sleeves
  3. Pull the shirt over your head
  4. Pull the shirt down
  5. Pick out pants from the drawer
  6. Sit down
  7. Put one leg into the pants
  8. Put the other leg into the pants
  9. Stand up and pull pants to your waist
  10. Pick out socks
  11. Put on one sock
  12. Put on the other sock

Using Task Analysis at Home

Once you have broken down the task, teach one step at a time. You can start from the beginning (called “forward chaining”) or start from the last step and work backward (called “backward chaining”). Backward chaining can be especially motivating because your child gets to complete the final step and experience the satisfaction of finishing the task.

Example of backward chaining for putting on a shirt: You do steps 1 through 3, and your child does step 4 (pulling the shirt down). Once they master that, they do steps 3 and 4. Then steps 2, 3, and 4 — and so on until they can do the whole thing independently.

5. Natural Environment Teaching (NET)

Natural Environment Teaching turns everyday moments into learning opportunities. Instead of sitting at a table for structured practice, NET embeds skill-building into the activities your child already enjoys.

How NET Works at Home

The idea is to follow your child’s lead and use their natural interests and motivation as a springboard for teaching. When your child is engaged and having fun, they are more likely to learn and retain new skills.

Examples

  • At the grocery store: Your child reaches for a box of crackers. Before handing it to them, you hold it up and say, “What do you want?” You wait for them to say “crackers” (or approximate the word), then give them the box with enthusiastic praise.
  • During playtime: Your child is building with blocks. You hold up a block and ask, “What color is this?” When they answer correctly, you hand them the block and say, “Yes! Blue block!”
  • At the park: Your child wants to go down the slide. You say, “Say ‘slide, please!’” They say it (or try to), and you help them onto the slide with a big smile.
  • During bath time: You name each body part as you wash. “Let’s wash your arm. Now your leg.” Over time, you pause and let your child fill in the word.

Tips

  • Keep it natural. The goal is for learning to feel like play, not work.
  • Use your child’s motivation. If they really want something, that is a great teaching moment.
  • Celebrate every attempt, even if it is not perfect. Progress, not perfection, is the goal.

Putting It All Together

These five techniques — positive reinforcement, prompting, visual schedules, task analysis, and natural environment teaching — are tools you can start using today. You do not need to implement them all at once. Pick one or two that feel most relevant to your child’s current needs and build from there.

If your child is receiving ABA therapy, talk to their BCBA about how you can align what you are doing at home with their clinical goals. Consistency between therapy and home is one of the strongest predictors of lasting progress.

At Inquiring Minds, we believe parents are essential partners in their child’s therapy. Our parent and caregiver training program is designed to equip you with the strategies and confidence to support your child’s growth every day. If you are interested in learning more, reach out to our team — we are here to help.