ABA Parent Training: Key Areas to Focus on
- Ashleigh Evans (BCBA)
- Sep 30
- 7 min read
Let's talk parent training in ABA. Does it spark excitement or a touch of nerves? Most BCBAs recognize the importance of involving families in care, but translating clinical expertise into parent-friendly coaching isn't always straightforward. Many behavior analysts also didn't receive adequate training and support to develop parent training competencies during their supervised fieldwork experience. Even seasoned clinicians can feel uncertain about how to structure caregiver training sessions, what to prioritize, and how to engage caregivers in a way that feels practical instead of overwhelming.
The good news is that parent training doesn’t have to be complicated. ABA principles are universal. ABA professionals can use the same behavior-analytic lens they use with clients with caregivers as well. But what should be the focus of parent training in ABA? While it should always be tailored to each family, this blog will highlight several key areas to focus on in ABA caregiver training.
Importance of Parent Training in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Parent involvement in ABA is one of the most critical factors in a learner achieving the best possible outcomes. Research consistently shows that parent education and support within ABA programs provide a range of benefits, including:
Stronger parent-child interactions
Reduced stress for parents and caregivers
Faster progress in communication, social, behavioral, and adaptive skills
Better generalization of learned skills across different settings
Potentially shorter therapy duration and lower costs
Empowering caregivers to best support their child’s needs
How to Structure ABA Caregiver Training
Caregiver training is essential, but creating a structured, effective parent training program is no easy feat. It’s easy for BCBAs to feel stretched thin or unsure if they’re covering everything families need.
Consider the following steps to guide you in structuring caregiver training sessions.
Create an agenda: Plan ahead for what you intend to cover during the session. It's helpful to update the agenda throughout the week as things come up.
Build rapport and check in: Spend a few minutes connecting with the caregiver at the start of each session. Ask how they (and their child) are doing and inquire about whether they have any questions or concerns that have arisen since the last session. Allow them time to provide feedback before diving into lessons.
Follow-up: Conduct a brief follow-up, highlighting the key points addressed during your last meeting. If you provided them with homework or encouraged them to use newly learned strategies, see how those are working. Troubleshoot as needed. This is also a good time to review their child's progress to ensure they're informed on the progression of care.
Train: Implement training on the targeted strategies or concepts for that session. Focus on practical, actionable techniques that caregivers can apply at home. Use clear explanations, examples, and demonstrations to ensure parents understand both the “why” and the “how.” Behavior skills training (BST) can be highly beneficial in parent training.
For more guidance on the structure and content of parent training, consider a comprehensive curriculum, like the One-Year ABA Parent Training Curriculum. A ready-made curriculum provides a clear structure, step-by-step lessons, and strategies for teaching caregivers without hours of prep.
(Use Promo Code ABARC50 for $50 off the curriculum bundle!)
Family Values Exploration
Effective caregiver training starts with understanding what matters most to the entire family. Every family has unique priorities, routines, and cultural values that shape goals and interventions. Because of this, one of the first areas to focus on in parent training is understanding the family's values, goals, and preferences.
By exploring family values early on, BCBAs can align treatment recommendations with what caregivers find meaningful. Parents of children with special needs are often overwhelmed with endless responsibilities. Parent training shouldn't just add another thing to their to-do list. It must be meaningful, providing genuine value to the family. When families see that ABA strategies connect directly to their real-life goals, they are more likely to stay engaged and consistent.
Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder
A vast majority of clients receiving ABA therapy have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis. Particularly for newly diagnosed children, it can be incredibly beneficial for the family to learn more about their child's diagnosis. They may have scoured the internet and read through endless blogs and social media posts. But it can be challenging to discern fact from fiction and make sense of everything.
Understanding the characteristics and needs associated with ASD can be a key component of early parent training lessons. When caregivers gain insight into what autism is, the diagnostic criteria, how various traits can present differently in every individual, and how those traits specifically manifest in their child, they're better equipped to support their child's unique needs. Understanding the parents' perception of their child's needs can also guide clinicians in future training needs.
What Is ABA: Fundamentals of Behavior Analysis
Picture this. Your child receives a diagnosis of ASD. You're told that ABA is the gold standard of care and early intervention is key, so you quickly find a provider to get your child started. You know ABA is a type of therapy, but what exactly is it? How does it work? While these are certainly questions that can be asked during intake, many families begin services without a clear understanding of what to expect.
BCBAs should review some fundamentals of applied behavior analysis with their families. This will establish a solid foundation, enabling families to connect the dots and understand how the principles of ABA apply to their child's individualized programming.
During one of the first parent training sessions, BCBAs should cover:
What ABA is—and isn't
The history of ABA
Skills and behaviors that can be targeted during ABA
How caregiver treatment guidance works
This would also be a good time to encourage parents to reflect on what they hope to gain from parent training.
Want to master the art of parent training?
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Understanding and Addressing Challenging Behavior
Many families struggle with their child's behavior. Behavioral challenges are often a primary focus of ABA therapy sessions, and they should be equally important during caregiver training. Parent training should equip caregivers with the tools to understand why certain behaviors occur, how to prevent them, and how to respond effectively.
One key component is learning about the functions of behavior. Teach families to understand the why behind not only their child's behavior, but behavior in general. All behavior serves a purpose, which is vital to understand to effectively address behaviors that interfere with the family's quality of life.
Tied directly to the functions of behavior is ABC data. Teach families about ABC data and how clinicians can use it to gather information about what maintains a behavior. Some BCBAs assign caregivers homework to record data on their child's behavior. This can be really beneficial for understanding what occurs outside of sessions. However, as always, ensure parents have the knowledge, skills, and capacity needed for any "homework." Again, parent training should add value, not just create busy work.
As parents learn the basics of behavior, clinicians can expand their teaching to include how to implement their child's individualized behavior intervention plan (BIP). This includes providing practical strategies they can use consistently at home to promote positive behaviors.
Some common strategies covered in parent training to address interfering behavior may include:
Antecedent strategies to prevent behavior
Positive reinforcement
Functional communication training
Replacement behaviors
Differential reinforcement
Crisis management
Skill Acquisition
Equally as important as behavior reduction is skill acquisition. Through training, clinicians should help caregivers learn how to teach new skills and support their child’s development across domains, including communication skills, social skills, and daily living skills. When parents are involved in skill-building, children are more likely to generalize what they learn in therapy to everyday life.
Some skill acquisition ABA techniques taught in parent training may include:
Teaching modalities (e.g., DTT, NET)
Task analysis and chaining
Prompting and Fading
Shaping
Errorless teaching
Error correction
Generalization and maintenance
Self-Care for Parents and Caregivers
Parenting an autistic child can be rewarding, but it can also add layers of additional stress that many parents can't relate to. These caregivers often focus so much on supporting their child that their own well-being takes a backseat.
With this in mind, some BCBAs focus on addressing strategies to encourage self-care to prevent caregiver burnout. This might include setting realistic expectations, scheduling breaks, seeking social or professional support, practicing stress-reduction techniques, and celebrating small successes. Incorporating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) strategies into ABA parent training sessions can be highly beneficial.
Safety
The statistics on injury and mortality in autistic individuals are grim. The life expectancy is less than half that of the general population, with the mean age at death being only 36 years. Accidental injuries, like drowning, asphyxiation, and suffocation, are among the leading causes of death in individuals with autism. In fact, 28% of deaths in people with autism are caused by accidental injury (Guan & Lee, 2017). Wandering from safe places is also very common, with around half of autistic individuals being prone to eloping. Additionally, according to a 2022 meta-analysis, 44% of autistic individuals were reported to experience victimization (Trundle et al., 2022).
Given these risks, safety should be a central focus of parent training services. Teaching caregivers proactive strategies to prevent accidents and protect their child from harm is critical to supporting both the child’s well-being and the family’s peace of mind.
References
Dogan, R. K., King, M. L., Fischetti, A. T., Lake, C. M., Mathews, T. L., & Warzak, W. J. (2017). Parent-implemented behavioral skills training of social skills. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 50(4), 805–818. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.411
Factor, R. S., Ollendick, T. H., Cooper, L. D., Dunsmore, J. C., Rea, H. M., & Scarpa, A. (2019). All in the Family: A Systematic Review of the Effect of Caregiver-Administered Autism Spectrum Disorder Interventions on Family Functioning and Relationships. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 22(4), 433–457. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-019-00297-x
Guan, J., & Li, G. (2017). Injury Mortality in Individuals With Autism. American journal of public health, 107(5), 791–793. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2017.303696
Ingersoll, B., & Berger, N. I. (2015). Parent Engagement With a Telehealth-Based
Parent-Mediated Intervention Program for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Predictors of Program Use and Parent Outcomes. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 17(10), e227. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.4913
Lindgren, S., Wacker, D., Suess, A., Schieltz, K., Pelzel, K., Kopelman, T., Lee, J., Romani, P., & Waldron, D. (2016). Telehealth and Autism: Treating Challenging Behavior at Lower Cost. Pediatrics, 137 Suppl 2(Suppl 2), S167–S175. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2015-2851O
Lerman, D. C., O’Brien, M. J., Neely, L., Call, N. A., Tsami, L., Schieltz, K. M., Berg, W. K., Graber, J., Huang, P., Kopelman, T., & Cooper-Brown, L. J. (2020). Remote Coaching of Caregivers via Telehealth: Challenges and Potential Solutions. Journal of Behavioral Education, 29(2), 195–221. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-020-09378-2
Trundle, G., Jones, K. A., Ropar, D., & Egan, V. (2023). Prevalence of Victimisation in Autistic Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Trauma, violence & abuse, 24(4), 2282–2296. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380221093689
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