Steps To Progress

04/30/2026

If your child has been recommended ABA therapy, speech therapy, or occupational therapy, you may be wondering, what’s the difference?

Each therapy serves a unique purpose:

ABA therapy focuses on behavior and learning, speech therapy on improving communication skills, and occupational therapy helps with daily activities and sensory development.

While they’re different, they often work best together to support a child’s overall development and independence. Understanding how these therapies complement each other can help you make more informed decisions for your child.

Read our full blog to learn more:

Learn about the different therapies like speech, OT, and ABA for autism, and how they help improve communication, motor skills, and social behaviors.

04/24/2026

💭 What happens if a child resists ABA therapy in the beginning?

It’s actually very common. New environments and routines can feel overwhelming at first, so some resistance is completely normal. In ABA therapy, the focus isn’t on forcing participation, we really want to build trust. Therapists start by getting to know the child, using fun activities, and creating a positive, comfortable environment. This process, known as pairing, helps children associate therapy with good experiences.

If resistance continues, therapists adjust their approach, break tasks into smaller steps, and use reinforcement that’s helpful to the child. Every child moves at their own pace and early resistance doesn’t mean therapy won’t work. It just means the approach is being tailored to fit their needs!

04/22/2026

Is ABA therapy too rigid? Let's talk about it.

One of the most common misconceptions about ABA therapy is that it’s too strict or “one-size-fits-all.” In reality, modern ABA therapy is highly individualized and designed around each child’s unique needs, strengths, and personality.

Today’s ABA approach focuses on positive reinforcement rather than forcing behaviors, uses flexible and often play-based learning methods, builds real-life skills at a child’s pace, and is designed to create meaningful, lasting impressions.

Therapists continuously adjust strategies based on how a child responds for an experience that is supportive rather than restrictive.

The goal of ABA therapy isn’t to change who a child is, it’s to help them communicate, grow, and navigate the world with more confidence and independence.

If you’ve ever wondered whether ABA therapy is the right fit, asking questions and learning more is a great first step. Every child deserves support that works for them!

04/17/2026

What Does “Prompting” Mean in ABA? In ABA therapy, "prompting" refers to any assistance provided to help a learner produce the correct response.

Prompts can be verbal, visual, gestural, or physical and are used strategically to build new skills while minimizing frustration.

There are two common prompting approaches:

🔹 Least-to-Most Prompting
The learner is first given the opportunity to respond independently. If they need help, support is gradually increased step by step. This approach encourages independence and shows what the learner can do on their own.

🔹 Most-to-Least Prompting
The learner starts with more support (like modeling or physical guidance), and that help is gradually reduced over time. This is often used when teaching brand new skills.

Over time, prompts are systematically faded so the learner can perform skills independently and confidently!

04/14/2026

What is parent training in ABA therapy and why is it so important?

At Steps to Progress, parent training is a hands-on, collaborative process designed to help you confidently support your child in everyday life.

Rather than only discussing strategies, our BCBAs work directly with you and your child in real time. This allows you to see techniques in action, practice them with guidance, and receive immediate feedback in the moment.

Through parent training, you’ll learn how to:
✔ Support communication and language development
✔ Respond to challenging behaviors effectively
✔ Encourage independence and daily living skills
✔ Create consistency between therapy and home

When parents feel supported and confident, children are more likely to succeed.

04/09/2026

Myth: ABA progress should be fast.

Here’s the truth ⬇️

Progress in ABA therapy isn’t about speed, it’s about lasting, meaningful change.

Every skill is broken down into small, teachable steps. Before moving forward, each step must be practiced, reinforced, and truly understood. That’s how we build true independence.

Some weeks you’ll see big wins. Other times, progress may feel slower, and that’s okay.

✔️ Skills are being strengthened
✔️ Learning is being generalized
✔️ Foundations are being built

If you’re ever unsure about your child’s progress, ask your BCBA how goals are being tracked and what growth looks like over time. With ABA, slow and steady often leads to the strongest outcomes.

04/07/2026

What do you do when your child hits or bites in the moment? First, take a breath. It’s stressful, it can feel overwhelming, and you’re not alone in dealing with it.

We recommend that in the moment you:
• Stay as calm and neutral as possible (big reactions can actually reinforce the behavior)
• Block the behavior safely to protect yourself/others
• Keep your response short and clear (“No hitting”)
• Avoid giving a lot of attention to the behavior itself

Then shift quickly to what they should do:
• Prompt a replacement (like “gentle hands” or asking for help)
• Reinforce the appropriate behavior right away

After it’s over:
Figuring out why it happened (attention, escape, frustration, etc.)

Hitting and biting don’t usually come out of nowhere, they’re often times a poor attempt at communication.

The goal isn’t just to stop it in the moment, it’s to teach a better way to communicate for the next time. These behaviors are not uncommon, and they can improve with the right support and consistency.

04/02/2026

ABA therapy is often associated with behavior, but its impact goes much further, especially when it comes to communication. Many children struggle to express their needs or be understood.

🗣️ Expressing Wants & Needs
From words to signs or devices, kids learn how to clearly communicate what they need.

🤝 Reducing Frustration
When a child can be understood, many challenging behaviors naturally decrease.

👂 Building Understanding
ABA also strengthens listening skills—like following directions and recognizing cues.

💬 Encouraging Social Connection
Simple interactions like requesting, responding, or starting a conversation begin to grow.

Every child communicates differently and ABA works to meet them where they are to help them find their voice!

03/31/2026

We often focus on big changes (like leaving the house or starting school), but in ABA, we see it all the time, micro-transitions can be just as challenging.

👉 Switching from one toy to another
👉 Pausing a favorite activity
👉 Being asked to shift attention suddenly

These moments may seem minor to us, but they can feel like a loss of control or predictability for a child.

The good news? Small supports can make a BIG difference:
• Give a quick heads-up (“2 more minutes, then we clean up”)
• Use simple visual cues or timers
• Offer choices (“Do you want to clean up blocks or cars first?”)
• Keep transitions predictable when possible

When we support micro-transitions, we’re teaching flexibility and building trust!

03/26/2026

There’s a lot of misinformation out there about ABA therapy, so lets go over a few of the most common things people usually get wrong about ABA therapy.

🚫 “ABA is about forcing kids to comply.”
✅ Good ABA focuses on teaching communication, independence, and choice, not blind compliance.

🚫 “ABA ignores emotions.”
✅ Emotions are at the center of what we do. We teach kids how to express their needs instead of becoming overwhelmed.

🚫 “ABA is robotic or one-size-fits-all.”
✅ Every program is individualized. What works for one child may not work for another, and that’s okay.

🚫 “ABA only happens at a table.”
✅ The best ABA happens in real life during play, routines, and everyday moments.

At its core, ABA is about helping each individual build meaningful skills that improve their quality of life. Have you heard any of these before?

03/24/2026

Public tantrums can feel overwhelming, but there are ways to handle them calmly and effectively using ABA strategies. 💙

First, take a breath. Your calm response sets the tone.

🔍 1. Identify the “why”
Is your child trying to escape something, get attention, or access a preferred item? Understanding the function helps guide your response.

🧩 2. Stay consistent
If the tantrum is to gain something (like a toy or candy), avoid giving it during the behavior. This prevents reinforcing the tantrum.

👏 3. Reinforce calm behavior
The moment your child begins to calm down, even slightly, offer praise or a preferred item. Catch the good behavior early!

🗣️ 4. Teach replacement skills
Practice simple alternatives like:

“Help please”
“All done”
Pointing or using visuals

🚶‍♀️ 5. Plan ahead
Bring reinforcers, set expectations before entering the store, and keep outings short while building tolerance.

Remember: progress takes time, and every small win matters. You’re not alone in this. 💙

03/19/2026

Struggling with bedtime routines? You’re not alone.

For many children, transitions like bedtime can feel overwhelming, especially when it means stopping preferred activities.

Using simple ABA strategies can make bedtime smoother:

✔ Create a consistent routine (same steps every night)
✔ Use visual schedules so your child knows what’s coming next
✔ Give countdowns (ex: “5 more minutes, then bedtime”)
✔ Reinforce positive behavior with praise or small rewards

Consistency is important because over time, these small changes should lead to calmer, more predictable nights.

A structured routine can help your child and the whole family!