When you’re working with kids in ABA therapy, you’ll likely hear about shaping and chaining—two techniques used to teach new skills. Both are incredibly effective, but they work in different ways.
Let’s break down what they are and how they help in teaching new behaviors.
What is Shaping?
Shaping is all about rewarding the small steps toward a bigger goal. If you’re trying to teach a child a new skill, you start by reinforcing the closest thing they can do to the desired behavior. It’s like helping them get closer and closer to the target, little by little.
For example, if you’re teaching a child to say “hello,” you might first reward them for any attempt to make a sound. Then, as they get closer to saying the full word, you only reward them when the sound gets more accurate until they can clearly say “hello.” It’s a gradual process of shaping the behavior over time.
What is Chaining?
Chaining, on the other hand, is used when you need to teach a series of steps that go together to make a complete behavior. Think of it like teaching a child to brush their teeth: you break it down into smaller, manageable steps—like turning on the water, applying toothpaste, brushing teeth, rinsing, etc. Each step is linked together to form the whole routine.
There are two ways chaining works:
- Forward Chaining: Start teaching from the first step and build from there, step by step.
- Backward Chaining: Start with the last step and work backward, so the child gets to finish the whole task and experience success first.
Shaping vs. Chaining: What’s the Difference?
- Process: Shaping is about gradually reinforcing closer and closer steps toward a behavior, while chaining focuses on breaking a behavior into a sequence of steps.
- When to Use: Shaping is ideal when you’re teaching a new behavior that isn’t in the child’s repertoire yet, whereas chaining is great for teaching complex tasks that require multiple steps.
- Goal: With shaping, the goal is to develop a single behavior, but with chaining, the goal is to teach a whole chain of behaviors, like getting dressed or making breakfast.
At Bluebell ABA, we use both shaping and chaining techniques to help children reach their full potential.
Whether it’s in-home ABA therapy or school-based ABA therapy, we customize our approach to fit each child’s needs, ensuring they get the best possible support.
Reach out to us to learn more about our comprehensive ABA services in North Carolina.
FAQs
Can shaping and chaining be used together?
Yes! In fact, they often are. You might use shaping to teach the first step in a chain, then apply chaining to teach the rest.
How long does it take to see progress with these techniques?
It depends on the child, but with regular practice and reinforcement, you can see progress pretty quickly, especially if the steps are broken down clearly.
Are shaping and chaining only for kids with autism?
Not at all. These techniques can work for anyone learning new behaviors or skills, not just children with autism.