Your Child's First 90 Days of ABA Therapy: What to Expect

Starting ABA therapy for your child is a major step. The first 90 days are the most intense period of learning, for your child, your BCBA team, and your family. Many parents come into the first months of ABA therapy without a clear picture of what to expect, which can lead to anxiety and confusion when the experience doesn't match unrealistic expectations. This guide walks you through what typically happens in the first 90 days of ABA therapy at Belong ABA Therapy.

Days 1-30: Assessment and Program Design

The first month of ABA therapy is primarily about assessment and individualization. Before a single therapy session begins, your child's BCBA will conduct a comprehensive skills assessment. At Belong ABA, this includes the ABLLS-R or VB-MAPP (assessment tools designed for children with autism), direct observation of your child in the home, parent interview to identify priorities and family goals, and baseline measurement of current skills and behaviors.

This assessment takes time, usually 2-5 sessions. Once complete, the BCBA designs your child's individualized treatment program, which includes specific, measurable goals across skill domains (communication, daily living, social, behavioral), a reinforcement assessment to identify what motivates your child, and a schedule for BCBA supervision and RBT session delivery.

Days 30-60: Building Rapport and Establishing Routines

The second month is about relationship-building and establishing the therapy routine. Your child's RBT is introduced and begins spending time with your child in a pairing process, deliberately building a positive relationship before formal teaching begins. This pairing phase is not wasted time. Research shows that children learn more quickly and with less resistance from therapists they like and trust.

You may notice your child's behavior increasing in frequency (temporarily) as they adjust to the new routine. This is called an extinction burst and is a normal part of the behavior-change process. Your BCBA will guide you through how to respond.

Parent training formally begins in this phase. Your BCBA or a designated parent trainer will meet with you regularly to teach you the ABA strategies being used in sessions so you can reinforce them throughout the day.

Days 60-90: Data, Progress, and Adjustments

By the third month, therapy is in full swing. Your child's RBT is implementing teaching programs daily, collecting data on every target. The BCBA is reviewing data regularly, typically weekly or biweekly, and making program adjustments based on what the data shows.

Your first formal program review meeting with the BCBA typically occurs around the 90-day mark. In this meeting, you will review your child's progress on each goal, discuss any emerging behaviors or new priorities, revise the treatment plan based on progress, and align on the plan for the next quarter.

Some children show rapid progress in the first 90 days. Others make slower gains initially and accelerate later. Neither pattern is better or worse, it reflects individual differences in learning history, diagnosis severity, and the complexity of the goals being targeted.

What Parents Often Struggle With in the First 90 Days

The most common challenges we hear from families in the first 90 days include: 'My child cries at the start of every session.' (Normal during pairing, will typically resolve within 2-4 weeks.) 'I don't see any change yet.' (Data-visible progress often precedes parent-visible change. Ask your BCBA to show you the data.) 'The therapist seems to just be playing with my child.' (Naturalistic play-based teaching is intentional and evidence-based, this is good ABA.) 'I feel lost at home.' (Parent training should address this, ask your BCBA for more structured parent coaching if needed.)