Home ABA Activities (Indian Household Setup)

Core Rule Before Starting

ABA at home should be:
✔ Natural
✔ Play-based
✔ Short (5–15 minutes)
✔ Motivation-driven
❌ Not forced
❌ Not drill-heavy

1️⃣ Communication (MAND Training) – MOST IMPORTANT

Goal

Teach the child to ask for what they want instead of crying or pulling.

Indian Home Examples

🍪 Snacks Time

Materials: biscuit, banana, chips, roti
How:

• Keep snack visible but out of reach

• Wait (do NOT ask “bolo”)

• Child shows interest → prompt:

  • picture / sign / gesture / sound

• Immediately give snack

✔ Accept:

• Pointing

• Giving picture

• Any sound (“ba”, “mm”)

➡ This reduces tantrums naturally.

🧃 Water / Juice

• Hold bottle

• Wait for initiation

• Prompt: “water” (word/picture/sign)

• Give immediately

2️⃣ Natural Environment Teaching (NET) – Play-Based ABA

🧸 Toy Play

Examples:

• Ball

• Car

• Kitchen set

• Animal toys

How:

• Don’t give toy freely

• Pause → wait for communication

• Child requests → give toy

Language taught naturally:

• “Go”

• “More”

• “Again”

• “Stop”

🎵 Rhymes & Songs

Indian rhymes are excellent ABA tools:

• Lakdi ki kathi

• Twinkle twinkle

• Wheels on the bus

Pause song → wait for child to:

• Look

• Gesture

• Vocalize

Then continue (reinforcement).

3️⃣ Following Instructions (Receptive Language)

Goal

Child understands simple commands.

Start with:

• “Give”

• “Come”

• “Sit”

• “Stand”

• “Put inside”

Indian Home Setup

• “Give spoon”

• “Put shoes”

• “Bring ball”

• “Sit on sofa”

Use:
✔ gestures
✔ pointing
✔ physical prompts (light)

Reward immediately.

4️⃣ Imitation Skills (Foundation for Speech)

Motor Imitation

• Clapping

• Stomping

• Touch head

• Namaste

Make it a game, not test.

Oral Imitation (Pre-Speech)

• Blowing

• Lip smacking

• “mmm”, “aaa”

• Animal sounds

Do in front of mirror.

5️⃣ Daily Living Skills (Task Analysis)

🍽 Eating

Break into steps:

1. Sit

2. Pick spoon

3. Scoop

4. Bring to mouth

Reward each step initially.

👕 Dressing

• Pulling t-shirt

• Putting hand in sleeve

• Wearing chappals

Use:
✔ visual cues
✔ partial help
✔ praise

6️⃣ Behavior Reduction (WITHOUT punishment)

Example: Tantrum for Mobile

Wrong ❌:

• Giving mobile during crying

• Scolding

ABA Way ✔️:

1. Identify function (access)

2. Teach replacement:

   • “mobile” picture

   • “play” sign

3. Reinforce request

4. Gradually reduce screen time

7️⃣ Waiting & Turn Taking

Simple Home Games

• Rolling ball

• Building blocks

• Passing spoon

Say:

• “My turn”

• “Your turn”

Reward waiting even for 2 seconds initially.

8️⃣ Sensory Regulation (with ABA logic)

Many behaviors are sensory-based.

Indian-friendly sensory ideas:

• Atta dough play

• Rice dal bins

• Jumping on mattress

• Pushing chair

• Carrying water bottle

Calm body → better learning.

9️⃣ Parent Language Style (VERY IMPORTANT)

Use:
✔ Short sentences
✔ Clear words
✔ Repetition

Avoid:
❌ “Say properly”
❌ “Why don’t you listen”
❌ “Bolo na”

Model language instead.

🔟 Sample Daily ABA Routine (Home)

Total: 30–45 minutes spread across day

11️⃣ How to know ABA is working at home

✔ Less crying
✔ More pointing / showing
✔ Better eye contact
✔ Child initiates
✔ Parent feels calmer

🚩 Red flags at home

• Child cries continuously

• You feel like “police”

• Too many demands

• No fun

Stop → reset → simplify.

🌱 One-line takeaway

Home ABA is about teaching communication and life skills through daily routines, not controlling the child.