You don’t need special tools or lots of time to support your child’s ABA therapy. Everyday moments can be turned into learning opportunities that reinforce the skills your child is working on. Here are five simple ways to use daily activities to help your child practice and improve their skills.
1. Use Mealtime for Teaching Communication
How It Helps: Mealtimes are a great chance to practice communication skills. Encourage your child to use words or gestures to request different foods or ask for help. This helps build their language and social skills.
Example: If you’re having dinner, let your child ask for more of a particular dish or express their preference for a side item. For instance, if they want more peas, they can say, “More peas, please,” or use a gesture to point to the peas.
2. Incorporate Playtime for Social Skills
How It Helps: Playtime can be used to teach and reinforce social skills like taking turns, sharing, and following rules. Play with your child using games and toys that require interaction with others.
Example: Play a simple board game together. Use the opportunity to teach turn-taking by saying, “Now it’s your turn to roll the dice,” and guide them through the steps of the game. Praise them when they wait for their turn and follow the rules.
3. Turn Chores into Learning Moments
How It Helps: Daily chores can be a fun way to practice skills like following instructions and completing tasks. Involve your child in simple chores and give them step-by-step instructions.
Example: While folding laundry, ask your child to help by matching socks. You can say, “Can you find the matching socks and put them together?” This helps with categorization and following directions.
4. Use Storytime for Skill Building
How It Helps: Reading books together is not only enjoyable but also a great way to reinforce language skills and comprehension. Choose books with interactive elements or questions to engage your child.
Example: During storytime, ask your child questions about the story or characters. For example, after reading a page, you might ask, “What do you think happens next?” This encourages them to think critically and express their thoughts.
5. Practice Self-Care Routines Together
How It Helps: Self-care routines like brushing teeth or getting dressed are excellent opportunities to practice following sequences and independence. Break the routine into small steps and guide your child through each one.
Example: When brushing teeth, show your child each step: putting toothpaste on the brush, brushing in circular motions, and rinsing. You can make it a fun activity by using a timer or singing a short song to keep them engaged.
Conclusion
You don’t need elaborate plans to support your child’s ABA therapy. By turning everyday moments into learning opportunities, you can reinforce the skills they’re working on in therapy. These simple activities can make a big difference and help your child progress in a fun and engaging way.
