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Autism, ABA & Speech Tips for Parents
Autism parenting tips, activities and ABA therapy resources for NJ and Philadelphia-area families, from the GentleCare team.
The Power of Parent Coaching: Why Caregiver Training Is Key to ABA Success
Why parent coaching is a key part of ABA, and how caregiver training helps your child’s new skills carry over at home.
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Picture Schedule & First / Then Board Maker
Build a custom picture schedule or First / Then board, then print it. Printable template with cards included.
Daily Routines for Kids with Autism: A Simple Guide for Parents
How to build calm daily routines for kids with autism: morning, after-school and bedtime steps, visual schedules, first/then and tips…
Does NJ FamilyCare Cover ABA Therapy? A Guide for New Jersey Families
Key Takeaways Does NJ FamilyCare cover ABA therapy? Yes. NJ FamilyCare, New Jersey’s Medicaid and CHIP program, covers medically necessary…
4 Simple Ways to Model AAC at Home
Four simple ways to model AAC at home, plus what AAC is and a sample day of modeling from breakfast…
7 Ideas for De-Escalating: Supporting Safe and Compassionate Responses
Seven calm, compassionate de-escalation strategies for big emotions, in a handout you can print and keep close.
Modeling Behavior We Want to See: 4 Tips for Parents
Four everyday ways to model the behavior you want to see: ask permission, apologize, narrate, and use the language you…
Communication Functions: 8 Ways Children Communicate
Eight reasons children communicate, each shown with a simple pinwheel example, plus easy ways to practice at home.
Functions of Behavior in ABA: Attention and Tangible
Why does my child do that? A printable look at the attention and tangible functions of behavior, with examples and…
We Are on Your Team: The Roles of Your Child’s ABA Providers
Who does what on your child’s ABA team? A side-by-side look at the BCBA and Behavior Technician (BT/RBT) roles.
The 7 Dimensions of ABA Therapy: A Guide for Parents
A printable guide to the seven dimensions every ABA program must meet, from Applied to Generality.
Stress-Free Potty Training for Children with Autism: An ABA Approach
Key Takeaways Toilet training is a major milestone for every child, but for parents of children on the autism spectrum,…
Flexible Afterschool ABA Therapy: Supporting Your Child’s Afternoon Routine
Key Takeaways For school-aged children on the autism spectrum, the end of the school day can present unique challenges. After…
Using First/Then Statements to Support Young Children
What is a first/then statement? A first/then statement tells a child what happens first and what comes next, like “First…
What Does It Mean to Be Neurodiversity-Affirming?
Key Takeaways Neurodiversity-affirming care honors each child’s strengths, needs and ways of experiencing the world. It respects all forms of…
Boosting Language Skills with Intraverbals
What is an intraverbal? In ABA, an intraverbal is a verbal response to someone else’s words with no picture or…
The Power of Choices: A Simple Strategy to Increase Cooperation
Getting kids to follow directions can sometimes feel like a battle. But what if there was a simple way to…
Spring-Themed Resources for Speech and Language Development
Key Takeaways Spring is a great time to bring speech and language practice outdoors. Nature scavenger hunt lists build describing…
Expanding Vocabulary Through Outdoor Exploration
Key Takeaways Outdoor play is full of chances to build vocabulary. Nature collections, bug hunts and cloud watching target describing…
Spring Into Speech: Fun Seasonal Language Activities
Key Takeaways Spring weather opens up outdoor chances to build language. A spring sensory bin, a scavenger hunt and planting…
Nature-Inspired Speech Therapy: Ideas for Sensory Learners
Key Takeaways Natural, outdoor settings can support sensory regulation and communication. Rock painting, sensory walks and obstacle courses each target…
Teaching Empathy and Emotions Through Play
Key Takeaways Play gives children a safe, natural way to explore emotions and practice social skills. Emotion games, social stories,…
Valentine’s Day Speech and Occupational Therapy Activities for Kids
Key Takeaways Valentine’s Day themes make speech and occupational therapy practice fun. Speech activities include conversation hearts, storytelling, following directions…
Building Social Connections: Encouraging Communication in Kids with Autism
Key Takeaways Children with autism may find reciprocal conversation and reading social cues challenging. Speech Therapy strategies include functional communication,…
Setting Communication Goals for the New Year: Tips for Families and Providers
Key Takeaways Start by reflecting on how the individual communicates today. Set goals together with families and providers using the…
How to Track Speech Therapy Progress at Home: A Guide for Families
Key Takeaways Tracking progress at home shows how well skills carry over into everyday life. Know your child’s Speech Therapy…
10 Speech and Language Milestones to Watch for This Year
Key Takeaways Milestones offer a guide to how speech and language usually develop. They range from responding to their name…
Pairing and Relationship Building in ABA Therapy
What is Pairing? In the field of ABA therapy, the term “pairing” often refers to the process of building a…
Visual Schedules: Making Routines Predictable
Key Takeaways Visual schedules show children what to expect, making routines more predictable. Choose a format (objects, pictures, words or…
The Science of ABA
Key Takeaways ABA is a science based on the principles of learning and behavior. The ABCs (antecedent, behavior, consequence) help…
Navigating the Autism Evaluation Process: A Guide for Parents
Key Takeaways Signs of autism can include social communication differences, repetitive behaviors and sensory sensitivities. Your pediatrician, Early Intervention program…
Common Assessments in ABA Therapy
Key Takeaways ABA therapy usually begins with a comprehensive assessment of your child’s strengths and needs. Common tools include the…
Understanding Behavior Analyst Licensure in New Jersey
Key Takeaways New Jersey now requires practitioners of applied behavior analysis to be licensed. Licensed Behavior Analysts (LBAs) meet education,…
Tech Tools for BCBAs: 5 Apps to Enhance Your ABA Practice
Key Takeaways Apps can support teaching procedures and streamline ABA practice. Choiceworks, visual timers and First-Then apps support routines and…
The Importance of Supervision in ABA
Key Takeaways Supervision is ongoing guidance and mentorship from an experienced BCBA. It supports quality services, professional growth, accountability and…
Understanding the Diagnostic Characteristics of Autism
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects communication, social interaction, behavior, and sensory processing. It’s called a…
Gift Ideas for Language Development
Perfect for the Holidays! Help your child develop their language skills through play! Here’s a list of toys categorized by…
Celebrating Our 2024 BHCOE Accreditation! A Milestone in Quality Autism Care
Update: GentleCare Therapy is currently BHCOE-accredited, reflecting our ongoing commitment to quality ABA care. We are thrilled to announce that…
How RBTs Make a Difference in the Lives of Children with Autism
Key Takeaways Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) implement ABA therapy under the supervision of BCBAs. RBTs collect data, teach skills and…
Using AAC During the Holidays
Key Takeaways The holidays bring many chances for children who use AAC to join in and be heard. Introduce holiday…
Speech and Language Tips for the Holidays
Key Takeaways The holidays are full of new words, traditions and chances to build language. Label and describe what you…
Halloween Speech and Language Tips 🎃
Key Takeaways Halloween offers natural chances to practice AAC and speech skills. Involve your child in choosing a costume and…
Our Favorite Places to Visit to Enhance Speech Skills!
Exploring places in your neighborhood can be a fantastic way to enrich your child’s speech and language skills! We’ve compiled…
5 Core Vocabulary-Loaded Books to Enhance Speech and Language
Key Takeaways Core vocabulary is the small set of words we use most often, like “go,” “want,” “help” and “more.”…
Autism-Friendly Tips for Preparing Your Child for Halloween
Halloween can be a thrilling time of year for many, but for children with autism or special needs, the excitement…
“A Visit to the Dentist” Social Story 🦷🪥
Key Takeaways A social story explains why you are going, what will happen and what comes after a dentist visit.…
From Summer to School: Ensuring an Easy Transition for Kids Going Back to School
By: Stephanie Schwindt, M.S., CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist, GentleCare Therapy As the air becomes crisper and the leaves transform into bright…
Ensuring Children’s Safety in Social Media
Key Takeaways Social media offers creativity and connection, but also risks like cyberbullying, oversharing and inappropriate content. Privacy settings, app…
All About Our State-of-the-Art Autism Center
Our state-of-the-art autism treatment center located in Gibbsboro, NJ is equipped to serve the needs of children in and around…
Navigating AAC: Where Do We Start?
Communicating and expressing our needs, wants or feelings is a part of our everyday lives. We all communicate through different…
How to Proceed After an Autism Screening
Your child received an autism screening, now what? After a screening for autism, you may be referred to a specialist…
Sleepy Time Series: Promoting Good Sleep Hygiene
Many children will experience some type of sleep-related challenge at some point in their lives. Children with autism spectrum disorder…
Meet the Team: Emily DuCoin, M.S., BCBA & Dr. Casey Nottingham, BCBA-D
Meet Dr. Casey Nottingham, Senior Clinical Director of GentleCare’s ABA Services and Emily DuCoin, Director of Quality & Supervision in…
Sleepy Time Series: Sleep Challenges in Children with Autism
World Sleep Day is March 15th! World Sleep Day is a day dedicated to spreading awareness about the importance of…
Meet the Team: Alinoel Navia, M.S. CCC-SLP!
Meet Alinoel Navia, M.S. CCC-SLP! Ali has been with GentleCare since 2016 and currently serves as Senior Clinical Director of…
“A Visit to the Doctor” Social Story
The social story below titled “A Visit to the Doctor” was designed to help parents prepare their child for a…
What Is Functional Communication?
What is functional communication? Functional communication is any way a child gets their wants, needs and feelings across, such as…
Skill-Building & Fun Valentine’s Day Activities for Kids!
Valentine’s Day is a time for sharing the love we have for our friends and family. It can also be…
Generalization: What It Means & Why It Matters
What is generalization in ABA? Generalization in ABA is when a child uses a skill they learned in new settings,…
What Is Parent/Caregiver Training?
What parent and caregiver training is, what a session looks like, and how it helps you support your child’s progress…
GentleCare Therapy Is Growing!
NOW SERVING CAMDEN, GLOUCESTER, AND BURLINGTON COUNTIES! FOR HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED ABA THERAPY! We’re excited to announce that GentleCare Therapy…
Basic Concepts and Language Development
Basic Concepts and Language Development Basic concepts are a critical part of language development. They provide the foundation of a…
Pragmatics: Social Communication Skills in Kids
What is pragmatics? Pragmatics is the social side of language: how we use words, tone of voice, facial expressions and…
Expressive Vocabulary: Word Counts, What Counts, What Can I Do?
What is expressive vocabulary? Expressive vocabulary is the set of words a child uses to communicate, whether they say them,…
Effectively Transitioning Every Day and Into Kindergarten
As an early interventionist OT, one of the most common questions I receive is, “will my child be successful in…
Early Intervention: The Vestibular System
What is the vestibular system? The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, tells the brain where the head is…
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