Incidental Teaching

Incidental Teaching is a naturalistic and well stablished intervention based on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) that aims to teach communication and social skills to children with autism by taking advantage of opportunities within their everyday environment. Unlike more structured methods like Discrete Trial Training (DTT), this approach focuses on the child’s initiative, following their interests and encouraging functional communication through spontaneous interactions. For example, if a child wants a toy, the adult waits for the child to attempt communication (using words, gestures, or eye contact) before providing the item, positively reinforcing their effort. This method helps develop skills in a natural context, promoting the generalization of learned behaviors to real-life situations.

While Incidental Teaching is supported by scientific evidence as an effective intervention for improving language and communication in children with autism, its success depends largely on the environment, adult observation, and consistency in implementation. It is particularly recommended for families seeking to integrate skill-building into daily routines rather than relying solely on rigid therapy sessions. Although it does not replace more structured therapies like intensive ABA or speech therapy, it serves as an excellent complement, especially for children who have acquired basic skills and need to transfer them to natural settings.