We all want to help our children thrive.
The long winter weeks are stretching ahead of us, filled with day after day of blissful routine… This is the best time to work with our children on the behaviors and skills that we were too busy to do anything about over the hectic yom tov season.
Each child is a universe of their own; make a plan that makes sense for YOUR child.
While ABA is the oldest and most tried-and-true method when it comes to behavior modification, it has its fair share of naysayers.
Will ABA turn my child into a rigid little robot?
Is Floortime a worthy alternative method to ABA?
How does ABA really work, anyways?
While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer for successful behavior modification, knowledge is a necessary pre-requisite when trying to choose the right program for your child. Do your research and consult with professionals in the field before jumping to begin anything.
Everyone likes to talk, but not everyone knows the facts. We’ve put the basics down here so that you can read, think, and be informed.
What exactly is ABA, and how does it work?*
ABA is an evidence-based method which uses positive reinforcement to teach new skills and decrease problematic behaviors in individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.
Some areas where ABA can help:
Increasing language and communication skills
Improving attention, focus, social skills, memory, and academics
Decreasing problem behaviors
First, the therapist identifies a goal behavior. Each time the person uses the behavior or skill successfully, they get a reward. The reward is meaningful to the individual – examples include praise, a toy or book, watching a video, access to playground or other location, and more.
*The above information is adapted from autismspeaks.org.
This is Eli.
Eli is a chubby-cheeked 4-year-old with ASD. He is quite verbal and expressive, though he often seems to ignore or not have heard questions directed at him. He will tell you all about the elevator in his building and ask if you have an elevator as well… And will refuse to change the topic for half an hour. The only vegetable he’ll touch is a cucumber, and only if it’s cut lengthwise into sticks. (The time that it was cut into rounds, Eli threw his plate across the room.)
Eli’s mother would like him to eat more types of food and be flexible about how they’re prepared.
Eli’s father wishes Eli would respond to his questions, such as, “are you hungry?” or “what are you looking for?”
We asked the experts for their thoughts, and gave you their recommendations here. 👇
But what if my kid turns into a robot?
Due to the structured nature of ABA, it is often accused of turning children into “robots” who do what they’ve been trained to do without any thinking or emotion. A fact that people often tend to overlook is that the child in question has ASD, a diagnosis which is generally characterized by a rigid and unbending personality. When mom says, “We’ll have lunch at 12:30,” the child establishes a new, unbreakable rule in his head: lunchtime is 12:30. And when lunch is served at 12:37, he may very well have a meltdown.
One of the goals an ABA therapist might work on with this child flexibility. By the therapist intentionally making slight schedule changes and breaking some of these self-imposed rules, the child will learn to be less rigid.
The point? ABA is a treatment plan to help the child with ASD achieve a higher level of independence – not a cure for the diagnosis. Some innate rigidity will likely remain for a lifetime, but with proper intervention, it will not hold the child back from living a happy and productive life.
What is Floortime? Is it a good alternative to ABA?
Floortime (a.k.a. DIR/Floortime) is a method used to improve a child’s development, social skills and emotional regulation. It is a child-led approach, in which the provider follows the child’s lead and, through literally playing with the child on the floor, helps them reach developmental milestones.
People love the natural feel of Floortime, of an adult engaging with a child at his own level. There’s something very human, respectful, and comfortable about a child learning and developing through calm play. Progress with Floortime is generally slow but solid.
In terms of issues like non-compliance, aggression, and practical life skills, however, it’s hard to say that Floortime can accomplish what ABA can. The fact that ABA is therapist-led does not mean that it’s cut and dry; on the contrary, ABA is very individualized to each child. While ABA is unquestionably more demanding than Floortime, it also brings about faster and more obvious results in the behavior arena.
Two is better than one
These days, a combination of both Floortime and ABA is very popular. Many special education schools will implement both methods, and many ABA agencies will consult with Floortime specialists. Tapping into the best of both worlds can improve your child’s development on all fronts, without having to compromise.
ABA Services
Disclaimer
As with everything else, take us with a grain of salt:)
We heard this information from professionals who we trust, and we thought it could be helpful for you to know.
But we don’t know your child as well as you do.
There’s no one answer when it comes to our special kids, so do your due diligence and research your options well…
And then, go with your gut.
We’re rooting for you!
Gittel, a fun-loving, high functioning 10-year-old girl, is loved by her doting family. But the prospect of having her home with all of the kids for a three day yom tov was daunting, so they called Ezreinu. Gittel was taken in by a warm and caring family, and her own family got to enjoy their calm, quiet yom tov ⬛
Mrs. Hirschfeld has an adult daughter with special needs who lives on her own and receives SSI benefits each month. One day, Mrs. Hirschfeld received a large amount of money from a relative, and she accidentally deposited it into her daughter’s regular account – effectively causing her daughter to lose the SSI benefits she depends on. Ezreinu put Mrs. Hirschfeld in contact with a professional who could advise her in this situation ⬛
2-year-old Ruvi’s parents can never get out due to his complex medical needs which need constant care and supervision. One night, they had a simcha, and with no nurse available to watch Ruvi, they reached out to Ezreinu. Ezreinu sent a trained volunteer to care for Ruvi so that his parents could enjoy the simcha with peace of mind ⬛
Identifying details have been changed to protect client confidentiality.
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