Hello parents! We know it’s pretty challenging for a child, diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It’s quite common for these kids to undergo certain therapies to make progress in life and ABA therapy is one of them. ABA stands for Applied Behavior Analysis, a research-based therapy.
This therapy is designed for kids and growing adults dealing with autism and other developmental disorders. The purpose? To improve their problematic or self-destructive behaviors and reinforce positive behaviours.
Now, the question is, how can parents support their children, undergoing ABA therapy, at home?
The first thing to note is that parents are an integral part of a child’s life and even more so who needs special care.
A certified ABA therapist carefully diagnoses the condition and difficulty levels of a child to determine the areas of improvements. ABA therapy is no generic therapy approach – instead, a tailored therapy program which includes specific activities or approaches to address the specific issues of a child.
The involvement of parents in this therapy matters a lot, because it helps them understand how the therapy is designed and how it can benefit the child. Therapists can guide parents on specific activities to try at home to reinforce the learning.
The game is so easy – the more the child is exposed to learning, the easier it will be to correct problematic behaviours.
We have board-certified therapists who have been designing one-of-a-kind ABA therapy programs for kids with various age groups.
Here are some tips on how parents can support their kids with ABA therapy at home
Understand what motivates your child, such as favorite toys or activities. Use these rewards consistently during therapy sessions and as a part of their daily routine at home.
As soon as your child displays a desired behavior, which is so great, you need to reinforce it right away. Why? Because this helps strengthen the connection between the newly established behavior and the reward.
You must have knowledge about the token economy, where your child earns tokens or points for displaying desired behaviors. This is actually helpful. These tokens can later be exchanged for rewards that your child prefers.
It’s important to keep your child engaged, and not feel overwhelmed. So, you’re gonna mix up the reinforcers you use, and introduce new ones, not at once but from time to time. This is good for maintaining their interest. Plus, they will not lose motivation.
When you are about to teach new skills, praise your child when they make an attempt or progress. This will improve their skills for sure!
Maintain Open Communication with the ABA Therapist
Ask questions, even if you have so many! If you’re unsure about any particular part of the therapy, ask the ABA therapist to elaborate to you its purpose.
Try all the therapist-recommended tips and activities at home to reinforce the learning from the therapy. Results don’t occur overnight! So, be patient!
Share your observations with the therapist. Your feedback matters a lot because you spend the time with your kids at home. Your feedback can help tailor the therapy to better suit your child’s needs.
One thing that goes without saying is that communication is essential, but don’t forget that the therapist is a certified and experienced one. So, respect the therapist’s professional expertise and role.
Wrapping Up
It’s okay to feel confused when your child starts therapy! All you need is a lot of courage, consistency, patience and compassionate therapists by your side!
We at Hope AMC are here for you! We offer tailored ABA therapy for kids in Dubai.
Our experienced and dedicated team of ABA therapy specialists has already worked with many kids, helping them make progress in life.
Don’t lose motivation or hope! Explore our social media channels for successful case studies!
When to come to our clinic? Well, any day of the week!
Book an appointment first! For more information, go to our official website!
