Encouraging Children to Try New Activities With ABA Therapy

Event
October 10, 2025

For many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), trying new activities can feel overwhelming. Whether it’s tasting unfamiliar foods, joining a group activity, or learning a new skill, stepping outside their comfort zone may trigger anxiety or resistance. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy offers proven strategies to help children embrace new experiences with confidence and enthusiasm.

Understanding ABA Therapy and Its Role in Skill Development

Applied Behavior Analysis involves many techniques for understanding and changing behavior, and can be adapted to meet the needs of each unique person in locations including home, school, and the community. ABA therapy is based on the idea that when you reward certain behaviors, children will repeat those behaviors, and when you reinforce specific behaviors, those behaviors will increase.

More than 20 studies have established that intensive and long-term therapy using ABA principles improves outcomes for many children with autism, with programs providing 25 to 40 hours a week of therapy for 1 to 3 years. These evidence-based practices make ABA one of the most effective approaches for helping children develop new skills and expand their horizons.

Why Children With Autism May Resist New Activities

Children with autism often prefer routine and predictability. New activities introduce uncertainty, which can be unsettling. They may also face sensory sensitivities, social anxiety, or difficulty understanding what’s expected of them. Rather than viewing this resistance as defiance, it’s important to recognize it as a communication of discomfort or fear.

ABA therapy addresses these challenges by breaking down new activities into manageable steps and using positive reinforcement to build confidence gradually.

Key ABA Strategies for Introducing New Activities

1. Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is one of the main strategies used in ABA—when a behavior is followed by something that is valued (a reward), a person is more likely to repeat that behavior, and over time, this encourages positive behavior change.

When encouraging a child to try a new activity, immediately reward any attempt—no matter how small. This could be verbal praise, a favorite toy, or extra playtime. The key is consistency and timing: the reward should come right after the desired behavior.

2. Task Analysis and Breaking Down Skills

The instruction plan breaks down skills into small, concrete steps, and the therapist teaches each step one by one, from simple to more complex. For example, if you want your child to try swimming lessons, start with just sitting by the pool, then touching the water, then putting their feet in, and so on.

3. Natural Environment Teaching (NET)

Natural environment teaching consists of teaching within the child’s natural environment, incorporating learning opportunities within play and other daily activities while focusing on the child’s motivation to optimize learning. This approach makes new activities feel less clinical and more like part of everyday life.

For instance, if you want to encourage art activities, start by incorporating drawing into playtime with their favorite characters rather than presenting it as a formal “lesson.”

4. Prompting and Fading

Prompting and fading is an ABA therapy technique that uses prompts or cues to help a child learn a new skill or complete an activity. You might physically guide your child through the motions of a new activity at first, then gradually reduce your assistance as they become more comfortable and confident.

5. Modeling Behavior

Children learn by watching others. Therapists and parents can demonstrate new activities themselves or show videos of other children enjoying the activity. This helps children understand what’s expected and see that the activity can be fun and safe.

6. Using Visual Supports

Visual supports play a significant role in ABA therapy activities, aiding individuals with autism in understanding expectations and promoting independence, with visual schedules such as lists, calendars, token boards, or sticker charts being particularly beneficial. Before introducing a new activity, show your child pictures or a visual schedule of what will happen. This reduces anxiety by making the unknown more predictable.

7. Incorporating Special Interests

It is essential to tailor activities to your child’s interests to maintain their motivation and engagement by incorporating their favorite activities into the therapy program or using activities specifically designed to target their areas of need. If your child loves dinosaurs, introduce new activities with a dinosaur theme—dinosaur-themed crafts, outdoor “fossil hunting,” or dinosaur movement activities.

Practical Examples of Using ABA to Encourage New Activities

Example 1: Trying New Foods

Many children with autism have restricted diets. Using ABA principles:

Start by having the new food simply present at the table (no pressure to eat)
Progress to touching the food
Then smelling it
Then taking a tiny taste
Provide enthusiastic praise and rewards for each step

Example 2: Joining a Group Activity

Social activities can be particularly challenging. ABA strategies include:

Begin with parallel play (playing near but not with other children)
Practice turn-taking in structured games with one other child
Gradually increase the group size
Use social stories to explain what will happen
Provide a “safe space” the child can retreat to if overwhelmed

Example 3: Learning to Ride a Bike

Physical activities can be broken down systematically:

Start with sitting on the bike while it’s stationary
Practice steering while an adult pushes
Try pedaling with training wheels
Gradually raise training wheels
Celebrate each milestone with meaningful rewards

The Role of Consistency and Patience

ABA treatment is most effective when it is consistently implemented, both during therapy sessions and in daily life, making it an excellent choice for families committed to fostering their toddler’s growth and development. Parents, caregivers, and therapists must work together, using the same strategies and reinforcement systems.

Progress may be gradual, and setbacks are normal. What matters is maintaining a positive, encouraging approach and celebrating small victories along the way.

Generalization: Applying Skills Across Settings

Generalization and maintenance of skills are crucial for long-term progress in ABA therapy, with therapists employing various strategies to ensure that skills learned in therapy sessions are generalized across different environments and maintained over time through sessions in multiple settings.

Once your child becomes comfortable with a new activity in one setting (like at home), practice it in different locations—at a friend’s house, at school, or in the community. This helps the child understand that the skill applies everywhere, not just in one specific context.

Working With ABA Professionals

ABA breaks a new skill down into very small steps, rewards a child for each step, is child friendly with things or activities they like, can be adjusted to any level of ability, and measures the child’s skills regularly, with research showing that ABA works best when started as early as possible.

Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) design individualized programs based on detailed assessments of your child’s skills, preferences, and needs. They can provide specific guidance on how to encourage your child to try new activities based on their unique profile.

Celebrating Progress and Building Confidence

Every new activity your child tries is a victory—whether they complete it successfully or simply make an attempt. Building independence is a gradual journey that requires consistency and support, and when children engage in these activities, they gain more than skills—they build confidence and learn to take ownership of their growth.

As children experience success with new activities, their self-esteem grows. They begin to see themselves as capable and adventurous, which creates a positive cycle: confidence leads to trying more activities, which builds more confidence.

Conclusion

ABA therapy provides a structured, evidence-based framework for helping children with autism expand their comfort zones and embrace new experiences. Through positive reinforcement, systematic skill-building, and individualized support, children can learn that trying new activities is rewarding rather than frightening.

The journey requires patience, consistency, and collaboration between therapists, parents, and caregivers. But with the right approach, children can develop the skills and confidence they need to explore the world around them and participate fully in life’s many opportunities.

Remember, every child progresses at their own pace. Celebrate the small steps, maintain realistic expectations, and most importantly, make the learning process as joyful and supportive as possible. With ABA therapy as your guide, you’re not just teaching your child to try new activities—you’re opening doors to a lifetime of growth and possibility.