When I first started ABA with my child, “assessment” sounded formal and scary. But really, it’s just a way to understand what your child likes, what motivates them, and why certain behaviors happen.
What It Means
Assessment in ABA usually involves two main things:
- Preference Assessment – figuring out what your child likes and what motivates them.
- Real-life example: I noticed my child lights up when playing with bubbles, likes a certain toy car, and enjoys snack time. By identifying these, we could use them as rewards or motivation during ABA sessions.
- Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) – figuring out why a behavior is happening.
- Real-life example: My child would scream when asked to clean up toys. Instead of just punishing the behavior, we looked at why it happened. The FBA showed it was because the task felt overwhelming, not because the child was “naughty.”
- Once we broke the task into smaller steps and rewarded attempts, the screaming decreased significantly.
Why Assessment Matters
- Helps you know what motivates your child
- Helps identify the cause of challenging behaviors
- Guides you in creating effective learning plans
- Ensures therapy is personalized for your child
💡 Tip from My Experience:
Even at home, you can do mini assessments. Watch what your child chooses first when offered options, or note when tantrums occur and what triggered them. This simple observation helps you understand your child better and make learning more effective.
💙 Want more ABA tips from real parents like me?
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