Naturalistic teaching procedures are a powerful approach within Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) that focus on teaching skills in real-life, meaningful contexts. Unlike structured, discrete trial training (DTT), naturalistic teaching is more flexible and student-led, allowing learners to develop skills in a way that is fun, engaging, and relevant to their everyday lives.
This method helps ensure that newly learned skills are generalized across different environments, people, and situations, making it an essential strategy for promoting independence and functional learning.
What Are Naturalistic Teaching Procedures?
Naturalistic teaching procedures use a learner-centered approach to teaching. Instead of delivering instructions in a structured, repetitive format, skills are taught within the child’s natural environment, using activities and items that interest them.
Key Benefits of Naturalistic Teaching Procedures
✔ Encourages real-world skill application – Helps children use new skills in different settings.
✔ Enhances motivation – Learning is embedded in play and everyday routines.
✔ Supports individualized learning – Activities align with the child’s interests, strengths, and preferences.
✔ Promotes student independence – The learner has control over the activity and makes choices.
✔ Uses meaningful reinforcement – Reinforcers are directly tied to the activity, making them more natural and effective.
Core Features of Naturalistic Teaching Procedures
All naturalistic teaching procedures share these four foundational components:
1. Student-Directed Learning
Unlike traditional teaching methods, where the instructor controls the session, naturalistic teaching allows the child to choose the activity or object. The therapist or parent follows the child’s lead, creating learning opportunities within that activity.
Example:
- A child is playing with toy dinosaurs. Instead of redirecting them to a flashcard activity, the therapist joins in and uses the dinosaurs to teach new vocabulary, such as “big,” “small,” or “roar.”
2. Reinforcers Are Related to the Teaching and Environment
In naturalistic teaching, reinforcement is directly linked to the activity, rather than an unrelated reward. This makes learning more meaningful and increases the likelihood of skill retention.
Example:
- If a child requests a ball by saying “ball,” the reinforcement is giving them the ball, rather than a sticker or unrelated prize.
3. Motivation Is Embedded in the Teaching or Play
Since learning occurs during preferred activities, the child remains naturally engaged. This intrinsic motivation makes it easier to maintain attention and participation.
Example:
- A child who loves animals may learn animal names, sounds, and colors through playing with a farm toy instead of a structured worksheet.
4. Mastered Skills Are Interspersed
To keep motivation high and reduce frustration, previously learned skills are mixed into new learning opportunities. This builds confidence and reinforces progress.
Example:
- While teaching a new skill like “identifying shapes,” a therapist might also ask the child to name colors—a skill they have already mastered.
How to Implement Naturalistic Teaching Procedures
Step 1: Identify Skills to Teach
Choose functional skills that can be applied in daily life, such as:
- Language development (e.g., requesting, labeling objects)
- Social skills (e.g., turn-taking, sharing)
- Problem-solving and cognitive skills
Step 2: Follow the Child’s Lead
Observe what the child is naturally interested in and build learning opportunities within that activity.
Example:
- If the child is playing with blocks, you can introduce counting or color identification.
Step 3: Embed Learning in Play and Routines
Incorporate learning into fun, everyday activities to make it more engaging.
Examples:
- Snack time: Teach the child to request food items (“I want apple”).
- Bath time: Practice body part identification (“Wash your feet!”).
- Outdoor play: Teach action words like “jump,” “run,” and “slide.”
Step 4: Use Natural Reinforcement
Instead of using external reinforcers (like stickers or candy), use reinforcers that are directly tied to the learning experience.
Example:
- If a child asks for a toy car, the reinforcement is getting to play with the car rather than receiving a token.
Step 5: Encourage Communication
Use natural opportunities to build communication skills, whether verbal or nonverbal.
Example:
- If a child reaches for a toy without asking, encourage them to say or sign the name of the toy before giving it to them.
Step 6: Expand the Child’s Responses
When the child responds correctly, build on their skills by introducing more complex language or actions.
Example:
- If a child says “ball,” you can expand by saying, “Yes, big red ball! Want to throw the ball?”
Example of Naturalistic Teaching in Action
Scenario: Teaching a child colors and animal sounds through play
- The child is playing with a farm toy.
- The therapist joins and moves a cow into the barn.
- The therapist asks, “What animal went into the barn?”
- The child responds “Cow.”
- The therapist praises the child, “Yes! The cow!”, and then builds on the skill: “The cow is hungry. Move the cow to the hay!”
Through this interaction, the child is not only learning vocabulary but also improving receptive and expressive language skills in a natural and engaging way.
Final Thoughts
Naturalistic teaching procedures offer a flexible, engaging, and effective way to teach essential skills. By embedding learning opportunities into play and everyday routines, children are more likely to retain skills and generalize them across different environments.
With the right approach, naturalistic teaching fosters independence, communication, and motivation, creating a fun and meaningful learning experience.
Have you used naturalistic teaching strategies? Share your experiences in the comments!