After a full day of learning, winding down doesn’t have to mean turning off the learning altogether. For caregivers of children receiving ABA therapy, the time after school can be an ideal opportunity to reinforce key skills in natural, low-pressure ways. The great news? You don’t need fancy equipment or formal lessons. With a little structure and creativity, everyday moments can become meaningful opportunities for growth.
Here are five simple, structured after-school activities that support the development of ABA skills while keeping things fun and engaging.
1. Sorting and Matching Games
Skill areas: Discrimination, attention to detail, categorization, visual scanning
Sorting activities are more than just “clean-up” tasks—they help children build foundational cognitive skills used in problem-solving and communication. Use items you already have at home: socks, blocks, utensils, snack bags, or even toys. Ask your child to sort by color, size, shape, or category.
Try this:
Lay out a variety of household items and ask, “Can you find all the blue ones?” or “Let’s group the animals together.” Reinforce effort and correct responses with praise or small rewards. These activities can be modified to meet your child’s needs or skill level. Consult with your care team to come up with fun, at-home activities to continue practicing their new skills.
Tip for caregivers: Start with two or three categories to keep it manageable. Visual models can help; show one example of each group to guide your child.
2. Turn-Taking and Board Games
Skill areas: Social interaction, patience, following rules, impulse control
Board games and card games are fantastic for teaching waiting, turn-taking, and appropriate reactions to winning or losing. Choose games that match your child’s developmental level and keep playtime short and positive.
Try this:
Games like “Candy Land,” “UNO,” or a simple memory match can provide structured social learning opportunities. Narrate what’s happening to help your child understand: “It’s my turn now… you’ll go next!”
Tip for caregivers: Use a visual cue, like a “My Turn/Your Turn” card, to reinforce whose turn it is. Practice pausing before responding to support impulse control.
3. Following a Simple Visual Recipe
Skill areas: Sequencing, instruction-following, fine motor, language development
Cooking and snack prep are everyday routines that can teach important skills. A visual recipe (pictures with or without words) helps your child follow multi-step directions while feeling empowered to complete tasks independently.
Try this:
Create a “Make Your Own Trail Mix” station with bowls of cereal, raisins, pretzels, and small scoops. Show a visual guide that says: “1 scoop cereal, 1 scoop raisins, 1 scoop pretzels.” Then let your child do it!
Tip for caregivers: Start with two- or three-step recipes and build from there. Use consistent visuals and language to build confidence and success.
4. Scavenger Hunts and Household Missions
Skill areas: Listening skills, gross motor movement, problem-solving, following directions
Indoor or backyard scavenger hunts can be a fun way to work on receptive language and direction-following. They also offer a break from screens and a chance to move around and burn off energy.
Try this:
Give your child clues like, “Find something soft,” “Bring me a blue sock,” or “Look under the table for a surprise!” Use visuals or photos if needed.
Tip for caregivers: Adjust the difficulty based on your child’s abilities. Break down multi-step directions if needed and reinforce each success with enthusiasm and encouragement.
5. Story Time with Built-In Q&A
Skill areas: Language development, comprehension, attention, emotional literacy
Reading together supports so many skills—especially when you pause to engage your child with questions. Use picture books or short chapter books to spark conversations.
Try this:
As you read, ask, “What do you think will happen next?” or “How do you think that character feels?” Use visuals of emotion faces if needed.
Tip for caregivers: Keep story time cozy and predictable. Let your child choose the book when possible to build motivation. Repetition is helpful—reading the same story multiple times supports retention and comprehension.
Caregivers play a powerful role in extending ABA learning beyond the therapy session. The key is to make activities feel doable and rewarding, not like extra work. Every small moment—whether you’re sorting laundry, playing a quick game, or reading before bed—can be a meaningful opportunity to practice and reinforce new skills.
Remember:
- Keep activities short and positive.
- Use visuals and simple language.
- Celebrate effort as much as success.
- Build routines around what already works for your family.
You don’t need to be a therapist to make a difference. You just need to be present, consistent, and encouraging. Over time, these small, everyday actions can lead to big progress and stronger connections.
