Watching your child with autism learn and grow can be deeply rewarding. It can also be uniquely challenging. One of the biggest challenges is making sure that new skills your child learns in therapy are used naturally beyond the clinic at home, in school and in the community.
This important step is called generalization. Understanding generalization and knowing how to support it can make all the difference in helping these skills stick so your child can flourish long-term.
What is generalization in ABA therapy?
Your child’s ABA therapy team can help your child learn to generalize newly learned skills across many settings, says Board Certified Behavior Analyst Reena Naami-Dier, Owner and Director of Spark Center for Autism, an early intervention, evidence-based applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy center in Farmington Hills.
Examples include:
- Learning how to greet their therapist, then generalizing that greeting to a grandparent or teacher
- Learning how to use the bathroom during therapy, then generalizing to the bathroom at home
- Identifying a picture of a cat in therapy, then seeing a cat in the neighborhood and calling it a cat
Why do children with autism need help generalizing skills?
Many kids with autism spectrum disorder struggle to transfer learned skills to new environments. “Early studies showed nearly half of children with ASD who learned new behaviors during treatment failed to generalize those behaviors to new settings,” says Naami-Dier.
There may be no specific reason for this difficulty — but children can, with support, learn to apply skills and behaviors across environments. “It’s important to remember that generalization does not often occur without skillful planning, which is where ABA can help,” she adds.
What can you do to promote generalization for your own child?
You can have a big impact by helping your child generalize skills from ABA therapy sessions to home and the community. Start by reaching out to your child’s therapy team to learn some naturalistic teaching strategies to try at home.
Here are some suggestions from Naami-Dier:
- Visit new locations to practice skills.
- Reinforce positive behavior! When your child demonstrates generalization, quickly provide praise and other tangible rewards.
- Find balance. Practicing skills TOO much can have the opposite effect, making learning new skills a turn-off for your child.
- Set realistic goals for generalization at home by starting small.
- Identify your starting goals by asking yourself: What is one thing your child can learn or do at home that would make your morning routine easier? (This could apply to your mealtime routine or your bedtime routine, instead.)
How does your help increase your child’s learning long term?
By promoting generalization, you’re helping your child now and in the future. “Long-term retention of skills are improved — meaning you are less likely to see your child lose skills that they previously learned,” says Naami-Dier. “And, with a parent’s help, generalization can strengthen the child’s ability to access learned skills and behaviors anywhere, not just in therapy.”
You’re also making today’s ABA therapy more effective. “You’ll be saving time and resources by reducing the need for re-teaching,” she says.
The biggest benefit of all is the impact on your child’s self-esteem. “Self confidence and independence are promoted more, since your child will be able to engage in skills and behaviors across settings they may not have previously,” she adds. “This is a huge win.”
How can you get started right now?
Talk to your child’s ABA therapy team. They can provide individualized support based on your child’s needs — and they will be able to offer tips and strategies to enhance generalization for your child’s strengths and desired areas of improvement.
“Learning about natural environment training is also a great skill that will assist you with promoting generalization,” says Naami-Dier.
Ready to start? Here’s what you need to know now
It’s always a great idea to work closely with your ABA team. They can help you recognize your child’s ability to generalize their learned skills, and give you an idea of what to look for outside the therapy environment.
“You can also keep an eye on how your child is using their skills outside of therapy sessions,” suggests Naami-Dier. “Are they communicating with others more effectively? Are they following routines and schedules at home, in the community or at school? Do you sense any shifts in their confidence related to their abilities?”
Also, pay attention if your child shuts down in new environments when asked to practice learned skills. Above all, be patient.
“Remember that ABA and learning new skills can take time. Sometimes behaviors can even get worse before they get better,” Naami-Dier says. “Being mindful of signs of progress can help you determine if your child is appropriately generalizing their skills.”
Expertise from Spark Center for Autism. Learn more by visiting sparkcenterforautism.com.