In-home Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is a highly structured approach to teaching new skills and managing behaviors. A key strategy for maximizing learning and keeping therapy engaging is the “80/20 rule.” This rule suggests that approximately 80% of therapy time should be dedicated to practicing skills the child has already mastered, while the remaining 20% is used to introduce and work on new, emerging skills.
This balance is crucial for maintaining motivation, ensuring skill retention, building confidence, and preventing frustration during in-home ABA therapy sessions.
Understanding the Importance of the 80/20 Rule in In-Home ABA Therapy
The 80/20 rule is not just an arbitrary number; it’s a strategic approach to learning that leverages behavior science principles.
- Building Motivation and Confidence: When a child successfully completes tasks they have mastered (the 80%), they experience frequent success and positive reinforcement. This builds a strong positive rapport with the therapist and fosters confidence and a willingness to engage in the therapy process. A child who feels successful is more likely to stay motivated during more challenging tasks.
- Preventing Frustration and Burnout: Constantly demanding a child to attempt new, difficult skills can lead to frustration, avoidance behaviors, and “learner fatigue.” The 80% dedicated to mastered skills provides necessary breaks and positive interaction, keeping the overall therapy experience fun and engaging.
- Skill Maintenance and Fluency: Practicing mastered skills ensures they are not forgotten and become fluent and automatic. This is critical for generalization—ensuring the child can use their skills across different environments, people, and situations.
Implementing the 80/20 Rule in In-Home ABA Therapy Sessions
The implementation of this rule is a dynamic process managed by the BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) and the RBT (Registered Behavior Technician) during in-home ABA therapy.
The 80% – Mastery and Maintenance
This portion of the session is dedicated to reinforcing known skills.
- Rapid-Fire Reinforcement: This part of the session should involve quick, easy successes and lots of positive praise. The goal is a high rate of positive interaction and reinforcement.
- Varied Activities: Therapists will rotate through various mastered skills to ensure the child doesn’t get bored. This might include identifying colors, following simple instructions, requesting favorite items, or completing parts of their dressing routine.
- Natural Environment Training (NET): Much of the 80% can happen naturally during play. A child is playing with a car, and the therapist reinforces their ability to say “car” or “go fast” when prompted.
The 20% – Skill Acquisition
This smaller portion of the session is where the child is pushed to learn new things.
- Errorless Learning: When introducing new skills, therapists often use “errorless learning” techniques. This involves providing strong, immediate prompts (like physical guidance or a full verbal model) to ensure the child gets the correct answer every time, even with a new skill. This maintains the positive reinforcement flow and prevents the child from practicing errors.
- Focused Instruction: This 20% may be more structured than the 80% and might occur at a table or in a specific learning area of the home.
- Immediate Reinforcement: New skills receive very powerful and immediate reinforcement (e.g., a highly preferred snack or toy) to build the connection between the effort and the reward.
Balancing the Rule: Parent’s Role in In-Home ABA Therapy
Parents play a vital role in supporting the 80/20 balance during and outside of formal in-home ABA therapy sessions.
- Observe and Communicate: Parents should observe the sessions and communicate with the BCBA and RBTs about their child’s engagement levels. If the child seems consistently frustrated, the 80/20 balance might need adjustment.
- Reinforce Outside of Sessions: Ensure that mastered skills are used and reinforced throughout the day in the home environment. This helps maintain the 80% of known skills and provides consistency.
- Attend Parent Training: Parent training sessions help parents understand the distinction between practicing known skills and working on new ones, enabling them to apply the correct balance in their daily interactions.
- Trust the Process: It can be tempting for parents to want their child to constantly be working on new skills. Trust that the 80% of mastered work is just as important as the 20% of new acquisition work in building a confident, happy, and skilled child.
In-Home ABA Therapy: The Long-Term Benefits of Balance
Mastering the 80/20 rule is an essential strategy in in-home ABA therapy that ensures a sustainable and effective learning journey. By focusing on a high rate of successful, positive interactions, children remain engaged, motivated, and open to the challenges of learning new things, leading to better long-term outcomes and a more positive home life for the entire family.