Tips for Parental, Family, or In-Home Service Provider Instruction in The Home

Frequency- number of times a behavior occurs

Duration- amount of time a behavior occurs

Latency- amount of time between the start of the opportunity and the behavior

Percent- number of occurrences out of the number of opportunities

Intensity- physical force or magnitude of response

Time Sample- observation period divided into intervals

Permanent Product- count of the behavior by observing the product

Interval Recording- recording behavior in intervals

Create Self-Monitored Work Systems

The idea behind the self-monitored tasks is that during these tasks, the child will work on structured tasks or structured chores by themselves (eventually) from start to finish.  At first they may need much guidance from you, but try to provide guidance without words.  If you want them to do these tasks on their own, using words could cause them to become dependent on your words to complete the task.  Typically, the tasks should be set up to be completed in a left to right or top to bottom sequence (www.TEACCH.com).  After completing work tasks, the child will need a place to store their finished work.   Our page on Work Systems has some more ideas, however, here are a few typical types of basic skills the child may be working on, but not limited to:

-putting counting bears into a container

-using a pincer grasp to take clothespins off of a container

-matching pairs of socks

-placing the picture with the beginning letter

-folding clothes

-sorting recycling

-placing clothes pins on stickers on an index card

Teach Adult Directed Skills or Tasks

These will be those tasks in which you are teaching your child a new skill.  These tasks will be identified by you  based on your child’s needs.  First take a look at where your child is currently functioning.  Use assessment data from the school setting or take your own inventory of your child’s skills.  Simply write a list of 10-12 specific skills that your child has.  Then, write another list of 10-12 specific skills you would like for your child to learn.  Next, take a look at a developmental milestones chart to see what is appropriate for (1) your child’s age and (2) your child’s developmental level.

Create Your Own Teaching Plan

The teaching plan should include the following elements:

• The Skill to be Learned
• Materials Needed
• Plan to Make the Materials
• Ideas for Data Collection
• Teaching Technique to be Used
• Motivator/Preferred Item/Reinforcer

Organize Your Materials

• Zipper-type baggies
• Label each baggie
• Use a box of selected reinforcers that your child is only allowed access to during work times
• Limit distractions in work areas

Teach Basic Skills by Starting Small, then Building Up

Present 1 or 2 items at a time.  For example, if you are teaching colors or numbers, don’t teach eight colors at once.  Start with one or two until your child masters the objectives/goals, then move on to another color, then another, etc. Clear the table off, except for what you are trying to get your child to focus on. When you first start, make the correct answer stand out (Ex. If teaching the shape “circle,” try using a large circle and a small square.  Gradually, switch to shapes that are the same size.) When starting to teach concepts or attributes, be sure to keep all elements of the materials the same except for the attribute you are working on (Ex. If you are teaching colors, have items which are exactly the same except for the color.  If you are teaching shapes, have shapes which are exactly the same color, but differ only in shape.) Teach more difficult vocabulary identification tasks, by first having your child match the picture, number or word to the exact same picture number or word. Next, you provide the vocabulary for what they are matching as you give them the picture (Ex. “match dog,”  “match book,” “match number 2”).  Gradually, begin to ask them to give you the picture, number or word (Ex. “give dog,” “give book,” “give number 2.”) please note that without a highly motivating item, you may have a difficult time getting your child to do the task.

Directly Teach Play Skills

• Play is not work! Try not to “test” your child while playing.
• Remember you will have to teach play skills.  They do not come naturally for many children with autism.
• Teach the play skills 1:1 first, then incorporate them into a group setting (Moyes, 1997).
• Use age appropriate games and toys to the extent possible.
• Find a way to make the game or activity “do-able” for him or her.
• Emphasize “my turn” and “your turn.”
• Over exaggerate movements, sounds and facial expressions.
• Have fun.  Your child should want to come to this play area.  If you are not having fun, they are probably not having fun.

Teach Self-Help Skills Routinely and Methodically

These ideas for teaching toileting skills are from Autism Classroom.com’s book How to Set U p a Work Area at Home for a Child with Autism.

1. Have a plan and work on one step at a time. 2. Use visual supports (check the TEACCH.com website for ideas for toilet training.) 3. Use backward chaining (physical guidance, then reinforce the last step.) 4. Use video modeling (Ex. Model from the child’s point of view.  There are ways to be creative without actually showing the act of someone using the bathroom.  For example, there are people who use squirt bottles and chocolate candy bars to imitate the actual act of using the bathroom.) 5. Remember there are a few important steps for the toileting process:

• Sits on toilet
• Stays dry for an extended period of time
• Urinates in toilet
• Wipes self
• Time toilet trained
• Requests use of the bathroom
• Independent

Find Ways to Get Your Child to Respond to Requests Consistently

If you have a specific behavior plan, then follow that.  Otherwise, try this technique for most, not all daily instructions: Use only a few words to make a request. Give your child your request only 2 times, then, on the third request follow through with assistance in completing the task.

Make Transitions Easier

One thing that could be done to make transitions easier  is to have something your child really likes at the place where they have to transition to each time. Also, letting your child carry something or “help” you to the next activity may help. Additionally, it may help to let your child hold something when they are sitting at the activity.

(Source: How to Set Up a Work Area at Home for a Child with Autism: A Manual for Parents, Family Members and In-Home Support Providers from AutismClassroom.com) It can be found below or on our merchandise page.