The Holiday Routine Paradox Let me guess: you've been told that kids with autism need routine. You've also been told that the holidays are supposed to be magical, spontaneous, full of surprises. Here's what I've learned: it can actually be both. But it requires rethinking what we mean by routine and letting go of what the holidays are "supposed" to look like. Predictable holiday routines  aren't about controlling every moment. They're about creating enough structure that your

Understanding Emotional Needs in Positive Parenting Your child throws their plate across the table. Or refuses to get dressed for the third morning in a row. Or hits their sibling over a toy. Your first instinct? Address the behavior. Stop the throwing. Enforce consequences. Make it clear that's not acceptable. But here's what positive parenting asks you to do first: look underneath the behavior to the emotion driving it. Because that plate didn't fly across the table because

When Basic Charts Aren’t Enough: Moving Into Advanced Precision Teaching You've mastered the basics of Precision Teaching and you're seeing great results. But now you're working with kids who need more complex interventions - multi-step behaviors, social skills, academic sequences that involve several different components. This is where advanced Precision Teaching techniques really shine. Tracking Multiple Behaviors Together Sometimes you need to see how different parts of a

The Thing Nobody Tells You Here's what most parenting advice skips over: your child's nervous system is constantly scanning yours for safety signals. This isn't conscious. They're not thinking "is mom stressed right now? Is dad upset?" Their body is reading your body - your tone, your breathing, your muscle tension, the energy you're putting out. When you're dysregulated, your child picks up on that. Even if you're using all the right words and doing all the right things, the

What Your Charts Are Actually Telling You Okay, so you've been collecting data for a couple weeks now. You've got dots on a chart and some lines going in different directions. But what does it all mean? Here's the thing - reading Precision Teaching data isn't as complicated as it looks. Your chart is basically having a conversation with you about whether your intervention is working or not. The Three Main Patterns to Know When Reading Precision Teaching Data Lines Going Up (A

Getting Your First Precision Teaching Charts Right Setting up Precision Teaching charts doesn't have to be overwhelming, but it does need to be intentional. I've seen too many ABA professionals get excited about the concept and then burn out because they tried to track too much too fast. Let's build your system the right way from the start. Choosing Your Target Behaviors for Precision Teaching The success of your Precision Teaching charts depends entirely on choosing the righ

The Day I Stopped Trying to Fix Everything I remember the exact moment I realized I was doing emotional support all wrong. My child was having a complete meltdown over something that seemed small to me - a slight change in the afternoon routine. I was doing all the "right" things: offering solutions, suggesting coping strategies, reminding them of their tools. And it was making everything worse. My child didn't need me to fix it. They needed me to just be there while they fel

What is Precision Teaching in ABA? If you've been in the field for any length of time, you know that data is everything. But let's be honest - sometimes our data collection feels more like checking boxes than actually understanding what's happening with our clients. Precision Teaching in ABA changes that completely. Developed by Ogden Lindsley in the 1960s, Precision Teaching is a method that focuses on frequency-based measurement and visual display of learning data. Think of

You're Already Doing More Than You Realize Let me guess - you've read the parenting books. You've sat through the parent training sessions. You're implementing strategies at home and trying to stay consistent with what the therapists are doing. And some days, you still feel like you're getting it all wrong. If that sounds familiar, take a breath. You're not failing. You're navigating something that's genuinely complex. Positive parenting for ABA families isn't about being per

After three weeks of explaining what Precision Teaching is and why it works, I know you're ready for the practical stuff. How we use Precision Teaching implementation at Precision ABA ? What does a session look like? Let me walk you through our approach and show you exactly what your child would experience. Our Initial Assessment and Goal Setting Process Setting clear and specific goals is an essential first step in Precision Teaching. We start by observing your child in diff

When parents ask me about the benefits of Precision Teaching, I always start with this: imagine your child not just learning a skill, but becoming so confident with it that they use it naturally, everywhere, without thinking twice. That's what sets Precision Teaching apart from other approaches. After years of implementing Precision Teaching at Precision ABA, we've documented benefits that go far beyond what we initially expected. Some are backed by decades of research, other

Precision Teaching Differences: How It Sets Itself Apart from Traditional ABA "We've tried ABA before, but the skills never seemed to stick." I hear this from parents more often than I'd like. Your child masters something in therapy, maybe even at home, but then struggles to use it at school or with friends. Sound familiar? This is exactly why Precision Teaching takes a different approach. Let me explain what makes it unique without getting lost in technical jargon. The Main

What is Precision Teaching in ABA Therapy: A Parent's Complete Guide When you first hear "Precision Teaching," it might sound like another complicated therapy term. Trust me, I've seen that look on parents' faces when we mention it during initial meetings. But here's what I want you to know - Precision Teaching might actually be the most straightforward approach your child experiences. Let me break it down in a way that makes sense for real families dealing with real challeng

Over the past few weeks, we’ve explored how parent involvement in ABA therapy plays a key role in building skills, boosting confidence, and strengthening the connection between home and therapy. From understanding ABA basics to supporting generalization and managing behavior, one theme has remained constant: when parents are engaged, children grow faster and feel more supported. As we close this series, let’s focus on the “big picture” — how to weave ABA into real life in sus

Think of working memory as the brain’s “sticky note.” It’s where we temporarily hold onto information so we can use it right away—like remembering a phone number long enough to dial it or keeping the steps of a recipe in mind as we cook. For children with autism, working memory challenges can affect everything from completing routines to learning new skills. They may forget instructions halfway through, lose track of what they’re doing, or struggle to hold onto rules in a gam

Parent involvement in ABA therapy is more than practicing strategies at home — it’s also about working closely with your child’s therapy team. When parents and providers communicate effectively, therapy becomes more consistent, personalized, and impactful. In this blog, we’ll explore why communication matters, how to build strong partnerships, and what strategies parents can use to stay connected. Why Communication Matters in Parent Involvement with ABA Team Open communicatio

Change is a part of life—but for many children, especially those with executive function challenges, it can feel overwhelming. Cognitive flexibility, the ability to shift gears when plans or expectations change, is a cornerstone executive function skill that shapes how smoothly kids can move through everyday routines. As ABA professionals, we see firsthand how even small transitions—like moving from playtime to cleanup, or switching from preferred to non-preferred tasks—can s

Parent involvement in ABA therapy doesn’t stop at the clinic or classroom. Growth becomes most visible when what happens in sessions is carried into daily life with consistency. Whether it’s mealtime, playtime, or bedtime, daily moments are opportunities to practice new skills, reinforce progress, and build independence. In this blog, we’ll share practical strategies you can start using today — plus a free parent resource to make it even easier. Why Using ABA Strategies at Ho

If you’ve ever tried to run a session with a client who can’t find their favorite toy, can’t remember what comes next, or melts down when the timer runs out, you’ve seen executive function challenges in action. Planning, organization, and time management aren’t just “school” skills—they’re everyday survival skills. They help children navigate routines, complete tasks, and manage transitions without constant adult intervention. 1. Planning Planning is knowing what needs to be

Parent involvement in ABA therapy isn’t just helpful — it’s essential. While therapists are trained to teach strategies, no one knows your child better than you. When parents actively participate, therapy progress extends beyond the clinic or school setting and becomes part of daily life. In this blog, we’ll explore why parent involvement in ABA therapy matters, what it looks like, and how families can get started. What Is Parent Involvement in ABA Therapy? Parent involvement