Habits of physical activity created in childhood and adolescence are likely to continue into the longer period of adulthood so establishing these practices early is of critical importance. Behavioral interventions to improve activity levels are worthy of consideration by both parents and educators.
Read MoreCan Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) teach honesty and reduce the breaking of rules? Transgressions or the breaking of rules and lying can affect the quality of a child’s relationship with both caregivers and peers so it’s worth addressing early and effectively. The challenge is that transgressions, which may be followed by a punishment or unfavorable response from a caregiver or peer, can lead to dishonesty to avoid that harsh consequence.
Read MoreYelling. Raising your voice. Being stern. Call it what you may, but we’ve all done it at some point throughout the parenting journey. We yell at our children when we are frustrated, or when they do something shocking or unsafe. When we yell at our children as a form of discipline, we often overlook the consequences. Is this form of discipline effective? Does my child learn from my yelling?
Read MoreIt is common for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to lack eye contact and gaze which can hamper their ability to pick up on social cues. These cues are critical for effective communication, academic success and help facilitate social interactions. Existing research indicates that with systematic training, individuals with ASD can learn eye contact and gaze.
Read MoreAlthough your child’s school is responsible for teaching your child a host of academic skills, some children still need family members to strengthen those academic skills in the evening or on the weekends.
Read MoreToe walking is relatively common in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It has been estimated that about 20% of young children with ASD have this ambulation disorder. Aside from the possible social impact of an abnormal gait, toe walking can negatively impact the physical health of the individual. For these reasons, an effective intervention is necessary.
Read MoreWhen compared to their neurotypical peers, individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are more likely to have difficulty in maintaining conversations. Researchers are motivated to discover and, in turn, clinicians are motivated to implement effective interventions and training procedures for building conversational skills.
Read MoreDo you ever want to keep your child’s positive momentum going? When we apply the laws of physics to human behavior, a child’s behavior itself may “stay in motion” even when conditions in their environment change due to what we call Behavioral Momentum Theory.
Read MoreWhile uncommon, child abduction is a valid fear for parents and caregivers. In order to prevent or reduce the occurrence of child abduction, children should be trained as to how to respond when faced with an abduction attempt.
Read MoreThe fear of children playing with guns and unintentionally causing injury to themselves or others is a real and grave concern. Studies have found that, even immediately after being told never to touch a gun, kids do pick up and play with guns and cannot consistently discriminate between a real or fake gun.
Read MoreSleep related problems are seen in both children who are typically developing and those with developmental disabilities. Sleep problems occur at a higher rate in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder.
Read MoreSpitting can be a behavior of concern for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It should be addressed because it can lead to social alienation, and is not only unappealing but it can be a health hazard given some infections and diseases are transmitted through saliva.
Read MoreWe are faced with making choices and decisions across our entire day, from what clothes to put on to how we interact with others. The outcomes of our decisions can, of course, be positive or negative. A positive outcome would most likely drive us to make that same, or similar, decision again in the future.
Read MoreWhen working with individuals with developmental disabilities, the prospect of teaching new, complex or multi-step directions can be daunting! We aren’t just teaching a client to brush their teeth, we are teaching them the 17 mini-steps that make up the teeth brushing routine and, on top of that, teaching them to do the steps in an exacting order.
Read MoreSome people think Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is just a bunch of behavioral voodoo filled with tricks to get people to do things they don’t want to do. They may think this because they’ve seen behavior analysis presented and executed in all the wrong ways.
Read MoreRecidivism or the act of a convicted criminal reoffending is a huge concern in our country. Individuals released from detention are at risk of reoffending partly due to deficits in education, vocational experience, and important job-related social skills.
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