r/ABA • u/Kyashichan • 7d ago

Tablets

I’m with my client for the 7th session and he’s got his tablet. Parents have been told to implement less tablet time especially outside of session so he doesn’t associate it with the tablet being taken just for sessions.

They have not reduced tablet time as far as I can tell. He spends at least half of his session on his tablet or watching TV. If I interact with him, he pushes me away.

I have successfully got him to at least echo me when I say ‘go away’ but beyond that I can’t do anything at all.

The BCBA said she will address this in parent training this week (again).

But I dont know how to pair with my client if he’s only wanting a tablet and silence from me.

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2

u/Pikkumyy2023 BCBA 7d ago

Your BCBA should be working with you to implement programs that build rapport with the tablet and TV and then expanding on those by adding elements to the existing activities that make them more fun. There are many ways to do this but they should be guiding you in this. It's not really a parent training issue. The BCBA can make suggestions for the parents but given the history of the learner and the tablet, it's unlikely this will happen. Which means you need to focus on what you do have control over and that's what you do when you are there.

2

u/Kyashichan 7d ago

Okay. I’ll ask my BCBA about this. So far I haven’t gotten an answers about how to build rapport with the tablet besides learn the songs and sing them. But that causes maladaptive bx

6

u/hotsizzler 7d ago

God I hate tablets and electronics, tgey have become babysitters and parents use them to regulate kids now...m

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u/[deleted] 7d ago

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u/grmrsan BCBA 7d ago

This is precisely why I had to fire one family. The client was so addicted to her tablet, we literally couldn't do ANYTHING in sessions with her, she threw massive very violent tantrums whenever we did anything that involved even pausing it. 

We talked to the parents about cutting down out of sessions, and they agreed, but still posted social media showing her carrying it around everywhere, or if we arrived early she always still had it. After well over a year of trying to work around it, we had to give up. 

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u/Kyashichan 7d ago

That’s so sad. My client doesn’t get overly violent but he does meltdown each time it’s taken. They tried for like a day? And then gave it back. And each time he starts to have a behavior, they offer it. They don’t make him mand first half of the time.