Christmas ABA Basics
Teaching during play and daily routines such as baking Christmas cookies and wrapping gifts
What is Natural Environment Teaching (NET)?
Typically, A child will scream when it’s time to stop decorating cookies. So, the therapist gives a 2-minute warning and shows a visual schedule before cleanup
What is an antecedent intervention/Priming?
Counting how many times a client leaves their seat during a Christmas movie.
What is frequency (event recording)? ( I will also accept Rate)
During a holiday craft, the therapist immediately helps the client complete the task correctly to prevent mistakes.
What is errorless teaching?
You show up to the session on Christmas Eve and the parent tells you that it's "Christmas Movie Day." They watch Christmas all day! So they ask you to help the client watch movies with the family all day. The parent asks you not to run a "normal session" since it's a special day.
Follow the treatment plan and refer the parent to the BCBA.
Breaking "decorating a tree" into small steps.
What is chaining?
When the client asks appropriately for a break from wrapping presents, the therapist immediately allows a short break.
What is reinforcement?
Writing down what happened before, during, and after a meltdown when the client couldn't open his sister's present.
What is ABC data collection?
The therapist slowly reduces physical and verbal help while teaching the client to wrap a present independently.
What is prompt fading?
A parent asks you to work on a new skill during a Christmas activity that is not in the treatment plan.
Follow the treatment plan and refer the parent to the BCBA.
Structured teaching with clear trials and repetition. (i.e., Practicing tacting all of Santa's 8 reindeer with flash cards)
What is shaping?
The client earns a sticker for each task completed at Santa’s Workshop and trades them for opening a present.
What is a token system?
Recording if crying happens at any point during a 10-minute holiday craft.
What is partial interval recording?
The therapist teaches the client to wrap a present by doing each step first and having the client imitate before trying independently.
What is modeling?
During a holiday party, someone asks how one of your clients behaves in therapy.
Protect confidentiality and do not share client information.
Placing toys out of reach to encourage requesting.
What is environmental arrangement?
The therapist no longer removes cleanup demands when a tantrum occurs during ornament cleanup. Instead, the therapist continues to require the client to clean up despite tantrum behavior.
What is escape extinction/follow through?
Recording the client attending only if it lasts the entire Christmas story time.
What is whole interval recording?
Before teaching a client to wrap a Christmas present, the therapist writes out each step: get paper, place the box, fold the paper, tape, and add a bow.
What is task analysis? ( I will accept chaining as well)
You forget to collect data during a Christmas craft activity.
Be honest, document accurately, and inform your supervisor.
Reinforcing closer attempts at singing a song.
What is shaping?
The client learns to say “help please” instead of throwing decorations, and this new behavior is reinforced. (HINT: Differential Reinforcement of ____)
What is Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA)?
Leaving several Christmas toys out and measuring how long the client plays with each.
What is a free operant preference assessment?
The therapist reinforces keeping hands in lap so ornaments cannot be thrown. (HINT: Differential Reinforcement of ____)
What is Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior (DRI)?
A family offers you a session at Disneyland on Christmas, as it's their family tradition. They said you can use makeup hours for the session, so you can stay all day, and they will pay your ticket and food.
Follow agency policy and professional boundaries (typically politely decline or consult your supervisor).