Here are some ABA activities that I recommend you do to prepare for the new semester :)
Min Jung Kwon
Hello, I am BCBA Minjeong Kwon.
I also created a checklist of things to prepare before the new semester ( check the blog ).
Today, we're going to focus a little more on ABA activities and introduce exactly 7 ABA activities that you can practice as you start the new semester.
As always, please select only the parts that your child needs and look at them :)
1. Get familiar with the schedule.
Objective: To familiarize your child with the upcoming routine.
Activities you can do:
- Create a visual schedule: Create a visual schedule using pictures, symbols, or icons to illustrate the school day (e.g., wake up, brush teeth, breakfast, school bus, class time).
- Morning Routine Practice: Practice your morning routine at home. Look at your visual schedule and practice each action you set as a goal, such as waking up, getting dressed, and eating breakfast.
- Live by the schedule: Practice the schedule several times, breaking down each step into more child-friendly pieces and using prompts appropriate for the child (e.g. physical prompting, modeling, verbal prompting, etc.)
ABA Program:
- Positive reinforcement: When each task is completed, give praise, a sticker, or a small reward (e.g., "Good job on your outfit!").
- Visual aids: Using a visual schedule consistently and reading social stories about school can help reduce anxiety.
- Use First-Then: Use the “First-Then” approach, such as “First, brush your teeth, then you can watch a short video.”
This is great! Having a predictable schedule for activities can help reduce anxiety in children and make it easier for them to adjust to a regular school routine at the start of the new school year.
Tip for parents: Be patient! If your child is having trouble with a step, break it down into smaller steps and celebrate small successes!
2nd: Getting used to the school environment
Goal: Reduce anxiety by making the school environment feel familiar.
activity:
- School Visit: Visit the school to explore the classrooms, playground, cafeteria, and bathrooms.
- Meet the teacher: If possible, have a short, positive interaction with the teacher. If not, look at their photo and talk about them.
- Photo Tour: When you visit the school, take photos of various places and create a story in a simple photo book or book that you can review at home. You can talk about things you can do at each place or tell a story.
ABA Program:
- Pairing: Bring a favorite toy or snack when visiting the school to help build positive feelings about school.
- Desensitization: Gradually increase the amount of time your child spends at school. Start with short visits (such as just walking to the front door and back), then gradually increase the amount of time spent at school.
- Reinforcement: Give your child lots of praise for brave actions, such as entering the playground or classroom.
I love this! Repeated exposure to school reduces anxiety and creates positive associations.
Tip for parents: If your child is feeling overwhelmed, shorten the visit and try again later. It’s more important to gradually increase the exposure.
3rd: Interaction Practice
Objective: Prepare for interactions that will occur at school.
activity:
- Role-play: Practice common school situations at home by role-playing them, such as greeting people in class, asking for help, and playing with friends.
- Script: Teach your child specific phrases to use in different situations (e.g., “Would you like to do this with me?”).
- Interaction with peers: Provide plenty of opportunities for group or pair work so that students can practice in real-life situations.
ABA Program:
- Reinforcement: Increase the number of successful social interactions by praising them, such as making eye contact, sharing items, and taking turns.
- Shaping: Start with simpler conversations (e.g., saying “hello”) and gradually move to more complex interactions (e.g., “hello, my name is 000”).
- Use prompting: Use verbal or visual cues to tell your child what to do so that he or she can gradually become more independent.
This is great! You can start by practicing social skills in a more controlled environment to build confidence, and then gradually practice interacting in real-life situations.
Tip for parents: Do a lot of modeling. It is very helpful to show your child a variety of behaviors and have them imitate them in different situations.
4. Switch activities
Goal: Be able to transition from one activity to another without difficulty.
activity:
- Timer transitions: Practice using a timer or countdown when transitioning between activities at home (e.g., from play time to dinner time).
- Visual Cues: Use pictures or other visual cues to help your child anticipate and prepare for transitions to different activities.
- Practice school transitions: Practice situations at home that your child will encounter at school, such as moving from the classroom to the playground (e.g., leaving the playground after study time).
ABA Program:
- Reinforcement: Give praise or tokens when the child transitions smoothly from one activity to another (e.g., give a sticker for a smooth transition from playtime to dinner).
- Clear instructions: Provide simple, clear instructions before changing activities (e.g., “We’ll clean up and leave in two minutes”).
- Reduce prompting: As your child becomes accustomed to the transition, gradually reduce the prompting or reinforcement.
This is great! Transition practice can help reduce resistance and anxiety.
Tip for parents: If the transition is difficult, try adding elements like a song, an hourglass, or an oil clock. Making it a little more playful can help reduce your child’s resistance.
5. Coping Strategies for Stress
Objective: Teach children how to manage stress and overstimulation.
activity:
- Teach them calming techniques: Teach them easier calming techniques, like deep breathing, squeezing a stress ball, or using sensory aids.
- Create a calming space: Create a quiet, comfortable space at home where your child can practice calming techniques when he or she feels stressed.
- Practice in different environments: Practice in different environments, such as different areas of the house, in the car, etc., so that your child can use the method in different settings.
ABA Program:
- Modeling: Model or videotape coping strategies and have your child follow them.
- Reinforcement: Provide praise or small rewards when the person uses it successfully (e.g., takes a deep breath when he is upset).
- Use prompting: You can make exercises like deep breathing fun by having your child imitate you in a more playful way, like an angry dinosaur or lion.
This is great! It takes a lot of practice, but learning coping strategies for stress and anger will help your child manage stress on his or her own in the long run, which will help him or her greatly in school.
Tip for parents: Practice regularly with your child, not just when he or she is angry, but also in normal times.
6. Practice self-help skills
Objective: Practice a variety of self-help skills in everyday life.
activity:
- Practice self-care: Give your child opportunities to practice self-care, such as getting dressed, brushing teeth, and packing a school bag.
- Organize School Supplies: Help organize your child's school supplies by doing activities such as putting pencils in a case or books in a bag.
- Provide choices: Give your child opportunities to make choices, such as choosing what to wear or what to pack for lunch.
ABA Program:
- Decrease prompting: Start by providing more guidance, but gradually reduce prompting as your child becomes more independent.
- Reinforcement: Provide praise or rewards for completing tasks independently (e.g., give extra play time if your child successfully packs his or her school bag without help).
- Task Analysis: Break down complex tasks into smaller steps and teach each step sequentially.
I love this! Fostering independence increases your child's self-esteem and reduces their dependence on adults.
Tip for parents: Give your child plenty of opportunities to act independently. Making even small decisions on his own will help build his confidence.
7th: Practice, practice, practice!
ABA Program:
- Positive reinforcement: Celebrate your child's progress little by little and praise their efforts and achievements. Just practicing consistently and faithfully every day is truly amazing !
- Troubleshooting: Identify which parts were difficult, determine how you can provide additional support if needed, and how you can break down the task into more steps.
At the end of each day, take a few minutes to think about the following:
- What went well?
- What difficulties did you face?
- What adjustments might my child need to make to help him/her do better?
As the new school year begins, many things are new and difficult, so you may need to observe your child a little more closely and adjust your plans for him or her a little more carefully.
Please help your child adapt more easily by communicating frequently with teachers who know your child well :)