Using Gamification during ABA Therapy
What is Gamification?
Gamification involves elements from ABA Therapy that are typically found in games—such as rewards, challenges, and interactive tasks—to motivate and engage clients. Technology is the perfect tool to bring this concept to life. By incorporating elements like points, digital badges, or story-based progressions, BCBAs and RBTs can make therapy feel like a fun, rewarding adventure rather than a structured session.
When gamification is used alongside naturalistic teaching methods, like NET and NDBI, it supports skill generalization by embedding learning into daily life and real-world activities. These approaches make it easier for clients to transfer skills learned during therapy to other environments—home, school, or community settings.
Realistic video models can help teach skills to individuals with difficulty attending IRL.
Animated video models, like this one from PICKLE system, can turn a mundane daily living skill into a fun one!
How Technology Can Support Gamification
Here are a few ways that gamified technology can transform ABA sessions and enhance learning in natural environments:
Interactive Learning Apps for Building Daily Skills Apps like Pictello are designed with ABA principles in mind, incorporating gamified elements to teach language, communication, and social skills. Through interactive stories, visuals, and small rewards, these apps reinforce skills in a fun, non-intrusive way. When used in conjunction with NET, these tools help clients connect skills to real-life contexts, as therapists can use the apps in natural settings like the client’s home or in community environments, linking learning with everyday routines.
Video Modeling with Game-Like Rewards Video modeling tools, such as Misma Forma or PICKLE System, help break down complex skills into simple, manageable steps. BCBAs can set up “challenges” where clients practice each step of a skill (like a hygiene routine) to earn rewards, such as points or digital stickers. This game-like setup motivates clients to participate in the skill and reinforces positive behavior. By using these tools in real-life contexts and reinforcing with NET principles, clients can learn skills like brushing teeth, getting dressed, or managing emotions in a way that feels achievable and rewarding.
Digital Badges and Points for Skill Mastery Digital badges and point-based systems give clients clear goals and tangible rewards for each step mastered. Imagine a system where clients earn points for using appropriate social greetings, completing tasks independently, or expressing needs. Using NET, these points can be “earned” in natural settings—whether it’s greeting someone in a grocery store or helping with chores at home. These achievements become meaningful as clients see their progress represented through digital rewards, fostering motivation while practicing skills in real-world scenarios.
Social Skills Games for Natural Social Interactions Interactive apps designed to support social skills, such as Camp Discovery, offer gamified tasks for understanding emotions, responding to social cues, and practicing conversation skills. When used in group settings or with family, these games allow clients to practice in social situations that mirror real life. This type of interactive play aligns perfectly with NDBI strategies, encouraging spontaneous social interactions and generalizing skills to more natural social contexts.
Parent-Facilitated Gamification for Home Practice Gamified technology can also be shared with parents to help reinforce skills at home. Apps like Skill Tracker Pro and Therapy Essentials offer simple, game-like tracking of daily routines or behavior goals, encouraging parents to set up fun challenges at home. With guidance from BCBAs, parents can incorporate gamified tasks into routines like getting ready in the morning, practicing patience during a shopping trip, or using language to make requests. This keeps learning continuous and integrated into daily life, empowering parents to support progress outside of therapy sessions.
The Benefits of Gamification in ABA Therapy through Natural Environment Teaching
By incorporating game-like elements into therapy, we can harness children’s natural motivation to play and explore, making learning enjoyable and instinctive. Here are a few reasons why combining gamification with NET and NDBI is especially effective:
Enhanced Engagement: Games are naturally engaging and often more motivating than traditional methods. By gamifying skill practice, therapists and parents can capture clients’ attention and sustain their interest, making each session feel like a fun challenge rather than “work.”
Fosters Spontaneous Learning: Naturalistic teaching methods aim to encourage learning in real-world contexts. Gamified apps and interactive activities align perfectly with this, providing clients with a structured but flexible way to learn skills in their natural environments.
Supports Generalization Across Settings: When learning is linked to everyday routines and environments, clients are more likely to apply these skills across different contexts. Gamified tasks are versatile and adaptable, allowing clients to practice a range of skills anywhere from home to the grocery store.
Empowers Parents as Co-Teachers: By incorporating gamification, technology makes it easier for parents to participate in therapy and reinforce skills at home. Apps and digital trackers provide parents with structured, interactive ways to practice skills, helping them become confident, active participants in their child’s development.
Getting Started with Gamified, Naturalistic ABA Therapy
For BCBAs interested in implementing gamification, here are a few tips for incorporating it into your practice with a naturalistic focus:
Choose Apps and Tools That Support ABA Principles: Look for apps that use rewards, interactive stories, or video models to teach skills relevant to your clients. Apps that allow customization or are specifically designed for ABA can make it easier to tailor the experience.
Set Clear, Achievable Goals for Each Game-Like Task: Keep goals straightforward and manageable. Whether it’s completing a hygiene routine or following a multi-step direction, clients should know what they’re working toward, with rewards to keep them motivated.
Involve Parents in the Gamification Process: Share these apps and activities with parents and give them tips on using them for practice at home. When parents understand the goal behind each task, they’re more likely to reinforce these skills in natural settings outside therapy.
Use Gamification as a Bridge Between Therapy and Real Life: Reinforce skills learned in the app or game by practicing them in real settings. For example, if a client earns points for using greetings in a social skills app, encourage them to “level up” by greeting someone at the grocery store or park.
Conclusion
Gamifying ABA therapy through technology and naturalistic methods creates an experience that is both effective and enjoyable. With the right digital tools, we can create interactive, game-like opportunities that blend seamlessly into clients’ everyday lives, supporting the natural development of essential skills. When therapy is engaging and fun, clients are more likely to feel motivated and confident, and parents feel more empowered to participate.
By using a gamified approach that emphasizes Natural Environment Teaching, we’re not just teaching skills—we’re helping clients apply these skills in ways that are meaningful and sustainable, ensuring that progress is made not only in sessions but in the real world. In the world of ABA therapy, getting parents actively involved can make a huge difference in a child’s progress. When parents are on board, skills practiced in sessions extend to home and everyday life, creating a more meaningful impact. But let’s face it—between busy schedules, other responsibilities, and sometimes even geographic barriers, keeping parents engaged isn’t always easy. Thankfully, technology is here to help. From simple communication tools to interactive learning apps, tech is transforming the way BCBAs connect and collaborate with parents. Here’s how it can make your job easier and bring parents into the fold more effectively.
