Leisure skills, unlike developmental play, support lifelong engagement, independence, and quality of life, whether it's crochet, reading, or structured hobbies. In this discussion, we explore how play skills evolve across ages and how ABA programs can support that progression.

We outline the typical stages of play, from exploratory and functional play in toddlers to pretend, constructive, and rule-based games in older kids. We discuss why using outdated play activities (like blocks or shape sorters) with older learners can be problematic and highlight the importance of transitioning to leisure skills as children mature, especially for teens and adults. We also touch on strategies for teaching play, including sensory-social routines, modeling, and focusing on student motivation.

What’s Inside:

• How to use ABA programs to support play through the ages
• Issues with using outdated play activities with older learners
• Strategies to use when teaching play

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An independent activity schedule (IAS) is a tool made up of pictures or written cues that guides a child through a series of tasks on their own. It promotes independence and reduces the need for constant supervision, making it a valuable strategy for both school and home environments. In this episode, we dive into how to design an effective IAS, share creative schedule ideas, and walk you through how to teach it step-by-step.

Whether you're looking to encourage more independent behavior at school or help your child complete daily routines before screen time at home, an IAS can be a game-changer. We break down the three key phases of using an IAS, how to integrate open-ended tasks, and tips for prompting and tracking progress. Plus, we show you real-life examples so you can tailor a schedule that fits your needs.

Want more information on independent activity schedules? On June 12th, we’re hosting a CEU event: Independent Activity Schedules, Building Meaningful Play and Leisure Skills. Click the link below to register!

What’s Inside:

• How to create an independent activity schedule.
• How an IAS can help in both home and school settings.
• IAS data collection best practices.

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Join Our Next CEU Event

When it comes to successful interventions, knowing the “why” behind behaviors is key. As practitioners, we may have learned in school that there are four functions of behavior: escape, attention, tangible, and sensory. However, in practice, things aren’t always so cut and dry. Here, we dive into the roles of antecedents, triggers, and functions so we can better understand what drives challenging behavior.

In this conversation, we discuss setting events and how what comes right before a behavior helps us understand a learner’s missing skills. We look at how to best determine the function of a behavior and how to teach appropriate replacement skills. We also discuss synthesized reinforcement, the importance of conducting a functional behavior assessment, and reinforcement strategies.

What’s Inside:

• How setting events help us uncover missing skills
• How to determine the function of a behavior
• Examples of reinforcement strategies

Mentioned In This Episode:
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Free Antecedent Log