Little Moments, Big Learning Why NET Works in ABA

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Children learn by exploring, playing, and connecting with the people around them, especially during everyday routines. That’s what makes Natural Environment Teaching (NET) such a powerful ABA approach. NET takes those natural, everyday moments and turns them into opportunities for learning.

Instead of long hours at a table with flashcards, imagine your child learning skills imagine the following:

• playing with their favorite toy

• chatting at the lunch table

• getting ready for school

Not only does it feel more natural (and fun for both the child & adult), when children learn in their everyday environments, those skills are more likely to stick and be used in real life (Yanchik et al., 2024; Firth et al., 2006).

The Proof is in the Play: Why NET Really Works

Recent research is giving parents even more reason to feel hopeful. Studies are looking at different teaching strategies for toddlers on the spectrum and found children who learned through Natural Environment Teaching (NET) — or a mix of NET and structured lessons — made bigger strides in important life skills, like healthy communication and independence. Even better, these same children showed fewer challenging behaviors that can sometimes make learning harder (Yanchik, Vietze, & Lax, 2024).

In other words, when we teach skills in the real world, children are more likely to use them in the real world.

Parent & Educator Tip: Look for natural opportunities to embed teaching throughout the day, whether it’s during morning routines, recess, transitions between classes, or a walk outside. These everyday environments often create the most meaningful (and lasting) learning moments.

Beyond the Table: How Natural Environment Teaching Outshines Traditional Methods in ABA

Back in 2006, researchers compared Natural Environment Teaching (NET) with a more traditional approach called Applied Verbal Behavior (AVB). Both methods had something great to offer — but they worked in very different ways.

Parent & Educator Tip:  Look for small, natural moments to build learning into the day — have your child request a snack, greet a friend at circle time, or choose between two toys. These little opportunities often lead to the biggest breakthroughs.

Real-Life Success Story

In 2008, researchers took a closer look at how Natural Environment Teaching (NET) could work in an inclusive kindergarten classroom. Their focus was a 6-year-old boy with autism — a bright child with strong language skills who found it hard to start conversations or join in play with classmates.

Instead of pulling him aside for separate lessons, teachers began weaving learning moments into his everyday classroom routines. During playtime, group activities, and transitions, they used gentle prompts and encouragement to help him connect with peers.

By embedding teaching opportunities into the natural flow of classroom routines, teachers were able to boost his social initiations with peers. What had once been described as “limited and unchanging” social performance began to grow, showing how NET can make a real difference in the dynamic, fast-paced world of a kindergarten classroom (Donaldson & Olswang, 2008).

​​It’s a beautiful reminder that when learning happens in real life, children grow in real ways.

Educator Tip: Look for naturally occurring moments — lining up, group play, or snack time — to gently prompt and reinforce social interactions. These small, in-the-moment opportunities often lead to the biggest social breakthroughs.

How to Bring NET Into Your Child’s Day

When children learn skills in natural environments, those skills are more likely to stick. Studies show NET not only boosts adaptive behaviors (Yanchik et al., 2024), but also promotes critical social milestones like joint attention, an essential building block for learning and relationships (Vostanis, Ritchie, & Langdon, 2024). And because it feels natural and engaging, NET often reduces problem behaviors that come with structured, repetitive teaching (Firth et al., 2006).

So, how can educators and parents bring NET into the day-to-day?

Educator Tip: Start small! Pick one routine you already do every day—like morning circle or snack—and add a single teaching goal, such as encouraging a request (“Can I have…?”) or a greeting (“Hi!”). Once that feels natural, layer in more. NET works best when it feels seamless and spontaneous.

Parent Tip: Make-believe play and favorite activities are perfect NET opportunities. Pretend play like tea parties, board games, or video games can spark natural chances to practice turn-taking, requesting, or commenting (“Your turn!” / “I need a card!” / “Wow, you won!!”). These playful interactions often lead to the most impactful learning moments at home.

In the End, It’s the Little Moments That Count

Natural Environment Teaching (NET) is more than just a strategy, it’s a mindset. By embedding learning opportunities into everyday routines, play, and real-life settings, we help students not only learn skills, but also use them where they matter most. 

Whether you’re a teacher, a parent, or another professional, you don’t need to carve out “extra” time for NET; it happens in the moments you already share with children. From snack time to circle time to recess, those small, natural opportunities can become the most powerful teaching tools.

Remember: it’s the little, consistent moments that make the biggest difference. By weaving NET into daily life, we set the stage for meaningful, lasting progress.

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References

Donaldson, A. L., & Olswang, L. B. (2008). Teaching self-initiations within the natural environment: A case study. Perspectives on Language Learning and Education, 15(2), 67–80. https://doi.org/10.1044/lle15.2.6

Firth, A. M., LeBlanc, L. A., Esch, J. W., & Sidener, T. M. (2006). Behavioral language interventions for children with autism: Comparing applied verbal behavior and naturalistic teaching approaches. The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, 22(1), 49–60. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03393026

Vostanis, A., Ritchie, L., & Langdon, N. (2024). Embedding precision teaching within play-based natural environment teaching to develop joint attention in autistic children. Behavior Analysis in Practice. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-024-00942-9

Yanchik, E., Vietze, P., & Lax, L. (2024). Natural environment teaching versus discrete trial teaching for toddlers with autism spectrum disorder. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 129(4), 277–292. https://doi.org/10.1352/1944-7558-129.4.277