Unfortunately, our learning environments are too often synthetic. This poses long term challenges for children as teachers and therapists are not effectively set up for holistic development. In order to combat this, we must find ways to engage in Natural Environment Teaching by bringing the natural world into our education environments.
What is Natural Environment Teaching (NET)?
Understanding NET
Natural Environment Teaching (NET) is an ABA therapy technique that involves teaching skills in the environments where they naturally occur. Unlike more structured methods such as Discrete Trial Training (DTT), which typically takes place in a controlled setting, NET leverages the natural contexts of daily life to make learning more meaningful and relevant for the child.
Core Principles of NET
- Contextual Learning: Skills are taught during activities that the child already engages in, making learning more functional and directly applicable to real-life situations.
- Child-Led: NET is often guided by the child’s interests and motivations, making it more engaging and enjoyable.
- Generalization: Because skills are taught in various settings and situations, they are more likely to be generalized and used across different environments.
How NET Works in Practice
Learning Through Play
At Unity Behavioral Services, we believe in the power of play as a natural and effective learning tool. During play, children are more relaxed and motivated, creating an ideal environment for teaching new skills. For example:
- Language Development: A therapist might use a child’s favorite toy to teach requesting. If the child wants a toy car, the therapist encourages the child to say “car” or use a sign for “car” before giving it to them.
- Social Skills: During group play, children are encouraged to take turns, share toys, and communicate with peers. These interactions help develop crucial social skills in a natural and enjoyable context.
Daily Routines as Teaching Opportunities
Daily routines offer numerous opportunities for learning. By integrating therapy into these routines, children can practice skills that are directly relevant to their daily lives. Examples include:
- Mealtime: Teaching a child to request food items, follow simple instructions, or use utensils correctly during meals.
- Getting Dressed: Encouraging independence by teaching steps of dressing, such as putting on socks and shoes, during morning routines.
- Bath Time: Reinforcing following directions and practicing self-care skills like washing hands and brushing teeth.
Community-Based Learning
NET extends beyond the home and therapy center. Community settings provide rich learning environments where children can practice and generalize skills. For instance:
- Grocery Store Visits: Children can practice identifying items, making requests, and following directions in a real-world setting.
- Parks and Playgrounds: These settings offer opportunities to engage with peers, follow social rules, and develop motor skills.
The Benefits of NET at Unity Behavioral Services
Individualized and Engaging
By focusing on the child’s interests and natural routines, NET makes learning more personalized and engaging. Children are more likely to participate actively and enjoy the learning process when it revolves around activities they find interesting.
Promotes Generalization
Skills taught in natural settings are more likely to be generalized across different environments. For example, a child who learns to ask for help during playtime at home will be more likely to use this skill in other settings, such as school or community activities.
Functional Skill Development
NET emphasizes teaching functional skills that are directly relevant to the child’s daily life. This approach ensures that the skills acquired are practical and immediately useful, enhancing the child’s ability to navigate and succeed in various environments.
Parental Involvement
At Unity Behavioral Services, we believe that parents play a crucial role in their child’s development. NET naturally incorporates parents into the therapy process, as many teaching opportunities occur during everyday family routines. We provide parents with the tools and strategies to reinforce skills at home, ensuring consistency and maximizing progress.
Implementing NET at Unity Behavioral Services
Collaborative Goal Setting
Our approach begins with a thorough assessment to understand the child’s strengths, needs, and interests. We collaborate with parents to set individualized goals that are meaningful and relevant to the child’s daily life.
Flexible and Adaptive Therapy
Therapists at Unity Behavioral Services are trained to be flexible and adaptive, seizing natural teaching moments as they arise. Whether it’s during a favorite game, a routine activity, or a community outing, our therapists are skilled at turning everyday moments into valuable learning opportunities.
Continuous Progress Monitoring
We continuously monitor the child’s progress through data collection and analysis. This allows us to adjust interventions as needed, ensuring that the therapy remains effective and aligned with the child’s evolving needs.
At Unity Behavioral Services, we understand that each child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is unique, and our approach to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy reflects that. We focus on Natural Environment Teaching (NET), an effective and child-centered method of teaching skills in real-life settings.
If you are considering ABA therapy for your child, we invite you to learn more about our NET approach at Unity Behavioral Services. Together, we can create a supportive and enriching environment that fosters your child’s growth and development.
