About ABA Therapy Services at BlueSprig

The “ABCs” of ABA

The key to understanding ABA and how we can reinforce and shape behavior is understanding the ABCs of ABA: antecedents, behaviors, and consequences.

• Antecedents are events that occur before a behavior.
• Behaviors are all observable, measurable actions. For example, eating, yelling, and smiling are all behaviors.
• Consequences are events that follow a behavior. Consequences can be negative or positive.

Let’s imagine a child named Emma really wants a cookie. First, something happens before she does anything—this is the antecedent. Emma sees a jar of cookies on the counter. Maybe she smells them, or remembers how good they are. 

Then, Emma does something—this is the behavior. She might ask politely, “Can I have a cookie, please?” Or, she might try to reach the jar herself, or even sneak a cookie when no one’s looking. 

Finally, something happens after Emma’s behavior—this is the consequence.  If she asked nicely, her parent might say, “Sure, one cookie.” But if she tried to grab one without asking, her parent might say, “No, not right now.”  

So, simply: 

1. Before (antecedent): Emma sees cookies and is hungry.
2. During (behavior): She asks or grabs. 
3. After (consequence): If she asks politely, she gets the cookie. If she grabs it, she does not.

To help Emma learn the best way to get the cookie she wants, her ABA therapist might:

1. Teach Her Communication Skills: Emma’s therapist might teach her better ways to ask for things, like politely asking, “cookie?,” instead of grabbing.
2. Provide Positive Reinforcement: Emma will be praised and rewarded for asking politely or following rules, like getting a cookie after dinner.
3. Use Visual Supports: Visual aids, like picture schedules, can help children like Emma understand rules about things like when they can have cookies.
4. Redirect the Behavior: If Emma tries to grab a cookie, her therapist or parent can gently remind her to ask nicely instead.

The goal of ABA therapy in this scenario is to help Emma develop appropriate communication skills, self-control, and an understanding of rules and expectations, all while ensuring a positive and supportive environment for her. Over time, with consistent intervention and reinforcement, Emma should be better equipped to handle her desire for cookies.

Taking the Next Steps

ABA Therapy is a safe and proven therapy that is developed and implemented by highly skilled and qualified staff at every BlueSprig family of companies location. Progress and results are continually being tracked, recorded and analyzed by the team, so any necessary changes can be made to ensure the best results are achieved for each child.