Natural Environment Training (NET) is a powerful, child-led instructional approach rooted in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Unlike traditional, structured methods often conducted at a table (Discrete Trial Training or DTT), NET moves learning into the child’s everyday environment, using their natural interests and ongoing activities as the basis for teaching.
The primary goal of NET is to make learning functional, fun, and directly relevant to the child’s life. This approach is particularly effective for promoting the generalization of skills—ensuring a child can use what they’ve learned in various settings with different people—and for building motivation, as the learning activities are driven by the child’s preferences.
Understanding NET: Key Characteristics
NET differs from other teaching methods in several fundamental ways:
- Child-Initiated and Interest-Led: Learning opportunities are often “set up” by the environment or initiated by the child’s actions (e.g., reaching for a toy). The instructor or parent capitalizes on these natural teaching moments.
- Natural Reinforcers: The reward for a correct response is directly related to the activity itself. If the child asks for a toy, the reward is receiving the toy. This makes the consequence more meaningful than a non-related reward like a sticker or candy.
- Varied Settings and Materials: Learning happens in the living room, the kitchen, the yard, or the grocery store. The “materials” are everyday objects like toys, food items, household chores, or outdoor equipment.
- Focus on Generalization: Because skills are taught in multiple settings with various materials, the child naturally learns to apply them broadly.
Why NET is Effective for Skill Acquisition
The effectiveness of NET stems from its ability to align with how children naturally learn and play.
- Increased Motivation: When children are interested in the activity, they are more engaged, more likely to participate, and more receptive to learning.
- Improved Generalization: Skills learned in a natural context (e.g., asking for juice in the kitchen at snack time) are more likely to be used independently in the real world than skills taught in isolation.
- Reduced Anxiety and Stress: The playful, less rigid structure of NET can be less intimidating for children who struggle with sit-down table work or structured demands.
- Stronger Social Skills: NET often involves a shared focus and interaction (joint attention), which is crucial for building social communication and rapport.
Implementing NET at Home: Step-by-Step Guide
Parents can easily integrate NET into daily routines without a formal “therapy time.”
1. “Set Up” the Environment (Arranging Antecedents)
The key is to create situations where the child has a natural reason to communicate or use a specific skill.
- The “Keep Out of Reach” Strategy: Place a favorite toy or snack where the child can see it but cannot reach it (e.g., in a clear, lidded container or on a high shelf). The child will be prompted by their desire for the item to communicate their need.
- “Forget” Essential Items: During an activity, “forget” a key component. For painting, forget the brush. At mealtime, forget a spoon. The child must then communicate to continue the activity.
- Offer Limited Choices: Instead of giving the child free access to everything, offer two choices. “Do you want to play with the train or the ball?” This encourages decision-making and communication.
2. Model, Prompt, and Reinforce
Once the communication opportunity is created, the parent acts as a guide.
- Model the Desired Behavior: If the child is reaching for a snack, the parent can say, “Say ‘snack, please’.”
- Use the Least Intrusive Prompt: Start with just a gesture or a slight pause. If the child doesn’t respond, offer a verbal prompt, and if necessary, a physical prompt.
- Reinforce Immediately and Naturally: The consequence should be the natural outcome of the communication act. If the child says “snack, please,” they immediately receive the snack. This shows the child the power of their communication.
3. Follow the Child’s Lead
NET works best when it is child-led. Observe what your child is doing and join in.
- Join Their Play: If the child is playing with cars, sit down and start playing too. Use this shared interest to embed learning goals like color identification (“I have the blue car, you have the red car”), turn-taking (“my turn to crash the cars”), or action words (“zoom,” “stop”).
- Expand on Communication: If the child says a single word like “ball,” the parent can model a slightly longer phrase like “big ball” or “throw ball” and encourage the child to imitate it, building language complexity naturally.
4. Turn Routines into Learning Opportunities
Everyday routines provide predictable, consistent opportunities for NET.
- Mealtime: Practice requesting “more,” naming foods, and asking for “help.”
- Bathtime: Practice requesting toys, soap, or saying “splash.”
- Chores: Practice identifying items to be cleaned, requesting a rag or broom, and saying “all done.”
Summary
Natural Environment Training transforms the entire home environment into a place of learning. By making skill acquisition part of the child’s natural play and routines, parents can leverage their child’s intrinsic motivation to teach essential skills in a way that is fun, functional, and highly effective for promoting lifelong independence.