Building School Readiness with ABA Therapy During the Summer: A Guide for Parents of Toddlers with Autism

Written by Behavior Frontiers as part of their Bright Futures Series

For parents of toddlers with autism, preparing for that exciting first step into school comes with many important questions—especially when you're navigating developmental milestones unique to autism. You might be wondering:

• How do I help my toddler with autism get ready for school?

• What skills does my child need before starting preschool or kindergarten?

• How can I make the most of the summer before school begins?

At Behavior Frontiers, we specialize in helping young children diagnosed with autism build the everyday skills that make school more accessible, enjoyable, and successful. Our center-based ABA therapy programs, including our summer program starting mid-June (available to those enrolled in ABA services at our centers), are thoughtfully designed to help toddlers and young children grow in confidence, independence, and communication while developing the practical skills needed for school readiness.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through what school readiness really means for toddlers with autism, how ABA therapy can accelerate that progress, what you can practice at home, and how Behavior Frontiers partners with families to make it all possible.

What Does School Readiness Mean for Toddlers with Autism?

When preparing a toddler with autism for school, success isn't measured only by academic milestones. It's about helping your child feel capable and confident in new environments, while developing essential social, communication, and self-help skills to confidently navigate school.

Key school readiness skills we work on include:

• Following instructions

• Socializing and interacting with peers

• Sitting with peers for group activities like circle time

• Taking turns and sharing with other children

• Responding to their name and engaging with adults

• Using communication (whether though spoken words, gestures, or AAC) to express needs

• Transitioning seamlessly between activities

• Building comfort with brief separations from caregivers

• Practicing independent toileting, handwashing, and eating

• Sitting and attending to short learning activities

• Being comfortable with small changes in routines or environments

• Regulating emotions

With the right support, these skills can be built over time—and they lay the foundation not only for school, but for a lifetime of meaningful learning and relationships.

How ABA Therapy Supports School Readiness

Our center-based ABA therapy programs are designed to help children with autism build and generalize real-life skills that directly support school readiness and participation. Offered in a preschool-like setting, our full-day programs provide children under 6 with individualized, 1:1 support from experienced clinicians. Progress is continuously monitored and optimized through PrioraCare™, our proprietary clinical data platform that allows us to make real-time, data-informed decisions for your child’s growth.

We focus on the areas that matter most for children entering school:

• Social Engagement: One of the key benefits of Behavior Frontiers’ center-based ABA therapy is the opportunity for children to engage with peers in a supportive, social environment. Through play-based learning and individualized 1:1 care, children build essential social skills—like taking turns, initiating interactions, and responding to others—all with guidance from our experienced clinicians.

• Self-Care & Independence: In our centers, children build comfort and confidence in daily living skills like handwashing, toileting, eating, and following visual or verbal cues.

• Functional Communication: Our expert technicians help children communicate their needs, understand directions, and engage in back-and-forth exchanges—using the communication method that works best for them.

• Attention & Participation: Our Behavior Technicians help children practice sitting during short tasks, responding to adults, and completing simple activities that mirror what they’ll experience in a preschool or kindergarten classroom, like circle time.

• Emotional Regulation: Children learn to identify and express emotions in healthy ways, building tolerance for new or unexpected situations and develop coping strategies to stay engaged throughout the day.

These skills are taught through positive reinforcement and playful, developmentally appropriate activities—designed to meet each child where they are and support steady, sustainable growth over time.

And because the early years—especially before age 6—are a time of rapid brain development, starting ABA therapy during this window can help children absorb and retain new skills more effectively, laying a strong foundation for success in school and beyond.

Summer: The Perfect Season to Build School Skills

Summer is an ideal time to focus on school readiness—especially for toddlers with autism. With fewer outside obligations and more scheduling flexibility, families can dedicate time and attention to helping their children build essential skills for preschool or kindergarten.

ABA therapy provides a consistent, supportive environment where children can continue making progress even when other routines are on pause. During the summer, ABA sessions can focus on strengthening skills like following instructions, participating in group activities, asking for help, and transitioning between tasks—so your child is better prepared to succeed when school begins.

Maintaining consistency in therapy, even with a modified schedule, helps children stay on track and avoid regression. If your family is traveling or adjusting routines, your Behavior Frontiers clinical team can work with you to identify ways to keep practicing skills during those changes.

For families enrolled in center-based ABA therapy, our summer program offers fun, themed experience starting in mid-June—blending fun and function to continue supporting school readiness goals in a playful, engaging format.

Reinforcing School Readiness at Home

What your child learns in ABA therapy becomes even more powerful when reinforced at home. You don’t need to set up a classroom—just create moments throughout the day to support what your child is already learning.

Here are simple, effective ways to strengthen school readiness at home:

1. Following Directions: Practice following simple instructions like “Sit down” or “Give me the ball.” Use a warm tone, clear language, and reinforce right away with praise or a small reward when your child follows through.
2. a. Why it works: Builds foundational listening skills and responsiveness to classroom directions.
3. Sitting for Group Activities: Create a short “circle time” at home with a song, story, or puzzle. Start with just 1–2 minutes and build up. Invite siblings or family members to join to create a group feel.
4. a. Why it works: Mimics classroom experiences and improves attention, participation, and social engagement.
5. Daily Living Skills: Practice self-help routines like handwashing, toileting, putting away toys, or packing a snack. Use simple steps and praise effort along the way.
6. a. Why it works: Builds confidence and helps children function more independently in group settings.
7. Requesting and Communicating Needs: Offer simple choices like “Do you want juice or milk?” and model language like “I want ___.” Pause to give your child time to respond.
8. a. Why it works: Teaches children how to ask for what they need reduces frustration and increases autonomy.
9. Turn-Taking and Sharing: Play simple back-and-forth games—rolling a ball, stacking blocks, or taking turns in pretend play. Use clear language like “My turn, your turn.”
10. a. Why it works: Prepares children for peer interactions and cooperative activities in the classroom.
11. Practicing Transitions: Use visual timers or verbal countdowns: “Two more minutes, then clean up.” Pair this with pictures, visuals, or schedule cards.
12. a. Why it works: Helps children learn to anticipate changes and transition more calmly between activities.
13. Generalizing Skills: Practice learned skills in different environments, like at the park, with grandparents, or in a new room.
14. a. Why it works: Helps your child use skills more flexibly across people and settings, which is critical for success in school.
15. Utilize Visual Supports: Visuals can help toddlers and children with autism understand expectations and communicate more easily. For example, use:
16. a. First–Then Boards (e.g., “First clean up, then swing”)
17. b. Visual Schedules (morning routine, snack time, bedtime)
18. c. Choice Boards (for food, toys, or break options to choose from)
19. d. Stop signs or “All done” cards to help with transitions
20. e. Free visuals can be downloaded from websites like Autism Speaks, Autism Little Learners, or ask your Behavior Frontiers team for customized supports.
21. Practice Morning Routines: Create a mini “school-like” morning routine at home, such as:
22. a. Wake up
23. b. Use the toilet and wash hands
24. c. Get dressed
25. d. Eat breakfast
26. e. “Pack” a pretend backpack
27. f. Sit for a short story or song

Even just 10–15 minutes of this routine helps build familiarity and comfort with school expectations.

Lastly, it’s important to remember that you don’t need to do everything perfectly. Start small and stay consistent. Your presence, encouragement, and follow-through make a big difference—and your ABA team is always here to support you.

Ready to Help Your Toddler Build School Skills This Summer?

At Behavior Frontiers, we believe every child deserves to feel confident, capable, and ready to thrive in a new environment. Our compassionate, expert clinicians are here to support your child in reaching important school readiness milestones—through personalized ABA therapy that meets them where they are and helps them grow.

Call us at 888-922-2843 or fill out the form below to schedule a free consultation.