Principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA)

Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is a therapeutic approach that focuses on principles such as positive reinforcement, where behaviours followed by a reward are more likely to be repeated. This helps children with autism learn new skills and reduce behaviours that may cause harm or interfere with learning.

Behaviour analysts in ABA examine the causes and consequences of a child's behaviour. They then design interventions tailored to the individual, focusing on fostering useful behaviours while minimising those that hinder learning.

Main components of ABA programmes

ABA programmes for children with autism typically include two core elements:

Building skills and behaviour management:

• Building skills - This involves developing abilities based on the child's existing strengths, with a strong emphasis on communication, social interaction, and play skills. This can include basic skills like looking and listening, as well as more complex ones such as reading or understanding another person's perspective.
• Behaviour management - Inappropriate behaviours are replaced with functional alternatives that achieve the same goal. For instance, if a child becomes irritable when needs are unmet, they might be taught to verbally request items instead, reducing frustration and promoting appropriate responses.

How ABA works in practice

ABA sessions use structured prompts and rewards to guide learning. A therapist might present a question or task, provide a hint or model the correct response, and reward the child for imitating it correctly. Rewards can include praise, treats, or activities, while incorrect responses are ignored or gently corrected without emphasis. Over time, prompts are faded out to encourage independent responses.

This method resembles a token economy system, where tokens or rewards are earned for positive behaviours and exchanged for privileges, reinforcing operant conditioning principles. As the child's responses become consistent, the support is reduced, building autonomy.

Floortime therapy as an alternative approach

Floortime is a child-centred therapy based on the developmental individual-difference relationship-based model (DIR). This approach aims to build emotional connections and help children achieve developmental milestones through enjoyable, shared experiences, countering the resistance some children show to adult-led therapies.

Children with autism may become rigid or resistant in structured settings, while families can respond inflexibly, leading to conflict. Floortime counters this by promoting parent or therapist involvement at the child's level, often literally on the floor during play.

Key techniques in Floortime

Floortime focuses on following the child's lead, meaning therapists and parents observe and join in activities the child naturally enjoys. This builds trust and opens pathways for development. A central process is 'opening and closing circles of communication', where back-and-forth interactions are encouraged to develop shared attention, engagement, and problem-solving.

For example, if a child is tapping a toy truck, the parent might mimic the action with a toy car to initiate interaction. They could then add elements like placing the car in the truck's path or introducing simple language, gradually expanding the play into more complex exchanges. This helps sharpen focus, abstract thinking, and logical reasoning.

Developmental milestones in Floortime

Floortime aims to guide children towards six key milestones essential for emotional and intellectual development.

These are built progressively through interactive play:

1. Self-regulation and interest in the world - Achieving shared attention with a parent to engage with surroundings.
2. Engagement and relating - Forming special bonds with preferred caregivers and distinguishing people from objects.
3. Two-way intentional communication - Participating in reciprocal interactions, such as exchanging smiles or tickles.
4. Complex communication - Using gestures to express needs and enlisting caregiver help for challenges.
5. Symbolic play - Communicating ideas or intentions through words, actions, or pictures.
6. Bridging ideas - Developing logic, reasoning, emotional thinking, and a sense of reality.