At Solstice Behavioral Health and Consulting, we recognize that ABA parent training is a critical part of quality Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services. Parent training offers numerous advantages for parents, caregivers, children, and families. Our parent training programs can help parents, caregivers, and grandparents become more informed about different methods they can use to improve their child’s skills, manage difficult behaviors, and encourage their child’s growth and progress. Our parent training services are based on the principles of behavior and ABA, making them useful and beneficial for parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and other communication- or behavior-related issues.
Our team will share ABA concepts to help you improve your child’s skills and behavior now and in the future. The parent training will also teach you how to help your child use and keep the skills they learn in ABA therapy.
Why Participate in ABA Parent Training?
Parent training as a part of ABA services is immensely beneficial for a child. Even if your child does not receive one-on-one ABA services, parent training can still be useful and helpful. When you receive parent training services, you will have the chance to talk with a specialist who can answer any questions you may have about your child’s behaviors and growth. You’ll be able to talk to the parent trainer about whether your child is making progress with the goals set for them. If there is little to no progress being made, the parent trainer will use their professional knowledge to suggest other methods that may help your child.
Parents should be actively involved in their child’s treatment services for many reasons. If their child is receiving direct services such as Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Therapy or some other intervention, the parent must take part in the treatment. By being open to learning and implementing the strategies that a behavior analyst has suggested and tailored to their child, you can help support the child’s growth, development, and quality of life.
Training allows parents to learn effective parenting strategies that can help their child become more independent, better their social and communication skills, and bring more joy and health to the entire family. These are only some of the benefits that come with parent training.
8 Reasons to Complete Parent Training
1. Parent Training Supports Your Child’s Success
By taking part in parent training services, you are helping your child to reach their treatment objectives, learn new skills that enhance their quality of life, and reduce any troublesome behaviors that could have a negative impact on their overall well-being. Regardless of whether your child has a diagnosis or not, parent training can make a difference as it provides parents with tailored advice, based on their child’s current skills and requirements, which will help them to make progress.
2. Supporting Treatment Outcomes
Research shows that one-on-one parent training for parents of children with ASD, developmental disabilities, and/or challenging behaviors can improve the child’s progress on treatment goals.
3. Supporting Communication and Social Skills
Through the use of ABA, particularly with the assistance of parent training services, parents can help their child improve communication skills, social skills, and a variety of other skills. Professionals offering ABA parent training can assess the social and communication skills and behavioral struggles of your child, and then create effective strategies which you can use to assist them in those areas.
4. Supporting School Success
Parents who take part in ABA parent training can assist in improving their child’s performance in school. They can aid their child in acquiring knowledge and exhibiting acceptable behavior in a school environment. They can help their child improve in the academic field by applying useful behavioral techniques, such as getting the child to finish their homework and understand the content being taught. Parents can also provide the school with ideas to help the child achieve better results by advocating for the usage of particular strategies.
5. Generalization of New Skills
By participating in ABA parent training, parents can help their child transfer the skills they have learned to different settings. This process, known as generalization, is a key part of learning new behaviors. Generalization refers to the ability to use a skill or exhibit a particular behavior in different contexts.
For example, if a child learns to add two plus two in school, they should be able to do the same equation when counting money at home. When parents understand the strategies and methods that work for their child, they can support their child’s behavior in other places, such as at home, in the community, and with other people, such as neighbors and relatives.
6. Preventing Regression
No matter where a child is taught new skills, be it at home, in ABA, or at school, parents can help their child to remember those skills in the future. Children with autism may regress and lose skills, particularly if they don’t get to practice them regularly.
For instance, if a child has recently learned to tie his shoes in ABA, his parents have a crucial role in helping him to maintain that ability. Without further practice, he might forget or become less proficient. Parents can get guidance from a parent trainer on the techniques used in ABA sessions to teach the child to tie his shoes, as well as what methods can be used at home for support, such as prompts, prompt fading, reinforcement, and providing adequate learning opportunities.
7. Better Understanding of Your Child
By participating in ABA parent training, parents can gain a better understanding of their child’s functioning, including their child’s diagnosis (such as autism spectrum disorder). They can consult with the ABA parent training provider to discuss any assessments done with the child, giving them insight into their child’s current skills and behavior issues. Parents can also learn more about how their child experiences the world, how they respond to sensory input, and how to both support their child’s uniqueness and encourage them to learn and grow. Through proactive strategies, reinforcement, and other techniques, parents can also learn how to reduce certain challenging behaviors, such as aggression, hyperactivity, and sensory overload.
8. Reduce Parental Stress
As a benefit to you, a study revealed that ABA parent training can reduce parental stress in their day-to-day lives and enhance the overall well-being of a family. Thus, parent training services not only benefit the child receiving the intervention but also the parent and the entire family.
ABA Parent Training is an Essential Component of a Child’s Treatment Outcomes
Parents are a vital part of any treatment plan for children and adolescents receiving therapeutic services. As primary caregivers, parents are present for moments that have a great influence on their child’s behavior and learning. With the help of a trained professional, parents can make a significant difference in the life and development of their child by incorporating effective behavior-change strategies into their everyday routines and activities. Parent involvement and guidance are essential components of ABA therapy, and when they are actively involved, their child is more likely to succeed.
At Solstice Behavioral Health & Consulting in Shelton, CT, we customize our parent training sessions to best meet the needs of your family and child. We collaborate with you to help your child progress in communication, self-help skills (like getting dressed and potty training), and social skills. As the expert on your child, we value your involvement and support in your child’s therapy. To reserve your seat, call (203) 900-4720. We are excited to work with you!
