Parent Training Methods for Teaching New Skills

Course overview

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) parent training is an important aspect that should be included in any ABA program. Parent training involves teaching parents or caregivers important skills that ensure generalization, improve the service recipient's functioning in the natural environment, reduce the stress on the family and on parents and other family members, and often make life more enjoyable for those involved. Parent training is typically used frequently by ABA professionals and may appear to be a common notion within any ABA-based program. Insurance providers often require that parent or caregiver training goals are delineated within an individualized treatment plan and that progress is provided on these goals for each authorization that is sought out. The principles of ABA can be used to change behavior and teach new skills to an individual. ABA-based services will require hard work from all individuals who are involved in the service delivery to an individual. These services do not occur in a vacuum or in isolation for a few hours a day. ABA-based services are considered a partnership, working as a team to improve the life of an individual who is receiving services through consistent changes in behavior over time. In this course, participants will learn to (1) discuss methods for structuring the environment to optimize learning, (2) identify ways to motivate a child, and (3) identify prompting levels that can be used to teach a new skill.