The Power of Parent Training: Why Family Involvement Matters in ABA

Published by Myers Assessment and Therapeutic Services (MATS)

When families start ABA therapy, they often think of it as something that happens during scheduled sessions. But here’s the truth: the most powerful, lasting progress happens when parents become active partners in their child’s treatment.

At MATS, comprehensive parent training isn’t just an add-on—it’s central to everything we do. Here’s why family involvement is critical and how you can make the most of it.

Why Parent Training is Critical to ABA Success

1. You Are the Primary Caregiver

Even with intensive 30-40 hour/week ABA programs, your child spends far more waking hours with you than with therapists. If skills are only practiced during sessions, progress will be limited. Parent involvement ensures continuous learning.

2. Consistency Accelerates Learning

When everyone uses the same strategies—from the BCBA to the parent to the sibling—children learn faster. Inconsistency confuses children and slows progress.

What consistency looks like:

• Same prompting strategies
• Same reinforcement systems
• Same language and expectations

3. Skills Need Generalization

One of the biggest challenges in ABA is generalization—using skills in different settings (home, school, park) with different people. The research is clear: Skills learned in one environment don’t automatically transfer. Parent training ensures skills generalize to home and community.

4. Skills Maintain After Therapy Ends

ABA therapy doesn’t last forever. The goal is always to increase independence and reduce the need for services over time. Parent training ensures you know how to support your child long-term, troubleshoot new challenges, and maintain skills after formal therapy concludes.

What Does Comprehensive Parent Training Include at MATS?

Our program covers everything required to empower you as your child’s primary behavior coach:

I. Understanding the Principles

• ABA Basics: How behavior works (the ABCs of behavior—Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence) and why reinforcement matters.
• Your Child’s Program: Understanding the treatment plan, how goals were chosen, and how to read data and track progress.

II. Behavior Management Strategies

• Positive Reinforcement: Identifying effective motivators, using praise effectively, and applying natural reinforcement in daily life.
• Preventing Challenging Behaviors: Recognizing triggers, making environmental modifications, and using proactive strategies.
• Responding Effectively: Learning to stay calm, use planned ignoring (when appropriate), and practice crisis de-escalation techniques.

III. Teaching New Skills at Home

• Prompting and Fading: Learning different types of prompts and, crucially, fading prompts to build independence.
• Natural Environment Teaching (NET): Turning mealtimes, play, and errands into spontaneous learning opportunities.
• Communication Support: Strategies for both nonverbal children (visual supports, AAC devices) and verbal children (expanding language and teaching conversation skills).

Different Formats for Parent Training

At MATS, we offer flexible training options to meet your family’s schedule:

• Individual Parent Training Sessions: One-on-one coaching with your BCBA, customized to your family’s specific, urgent challenges.
• Observation and Participation: Observing therapy sessions and receiving immediate feedback while practicing strategies in real-time.
• Home Program Implementation: Receiving written instructions and materials for daily practice, with check-ins to review progress.
• Group Parent Training: Workshops that build community and cover specific topics alongside other families.
• Virtual Parent Training: Flexible, convenient video conferencing for busy families.

Making the Most of Parent Training

Parent training only works if you approach it as an active participant:

Be Prepared & Be Honest

• Come Prepared: Before each session, write down questions, review materials, and share recent challenges or videos.
• Be Honest: Share what’s truly working and what isn’t. Your BCBA can only help if they know what’s really going on at home.

Practice and Be Patient

• Practice Between Sessions: Even 10–15 minutes of focused practice daily is better than nothing. Consistency matters more than perfection.
• Be Patient with Yourself: Learning takes time. Mistakes are part of the process.

Common Parent Training Challenges (and Solutions)

MATS’ Commitment to Family Partnership

Your involvement determines your child’s outcomes. We believe families are the experts on their children. Our role is to provide:

• Evidence-based strategies that work.
• Training and coaching to implement them.
• Partnership, not prescription.

We succeed when your family succeeds.

Ready to Learn?

If you’re ready to become an empowered partner in your child’s ABA journey, contact MATS today:

• Phone: (770) 629-4660
• Email: intake@myersassessment.com
• Website: www.myersassessment.com

Parent training isn’t just teaching—it’s empowering families to create lasting change.