Free lesson from the ABA Parent Coaching Toolkit
Teach First/Then to caregivers this week, without building a thing
Get a ready-to-run parent training lesson for behavior analysts: the slides, a full lesson plan with coaching questions, a one-page session guide, a parent handout, and a printable First/Then board.
Less prep. More time for the family in front of you.
Instant download. Made for behavior analysts who support caregivers.
Parent training, simplified
You know First/Then works. Teaching it to a tired parent is another story.
First/Then is one of the first tools most caregivers can use successfully. On paper, it's simple. In a real session, it's easy to end up explaining the Premack principle to a parent who just wants to get their kid in the car seat.
And when there's no plan for the session, a lot can slip:
Caregivers hear the idea but never practice it with you
"First/Then" turns into a bribe in the middle of a meltdown
The THEN doesn't happen every time, and the strategy stops working
You rebuild the same examples and handout for the next family
A good lesson plan fixes most of that before the session even starts.
Made for busy behavior analysts.
One complete lesson, ready for your next parent session.
This free lesson comes straight from the ABA Parent Coaching Toolkit. It's the same set of materials Toolkit members use, so you can see exactly how a ready-to-run parent session feels.
You'll walk caregivers through what First/Then is (and what it isn't), practice it together using real family moments like car seats and getting shoes on, and send them home with a simple plan they chose themselves.
Prep in about 15 minutes.
Skim the one-page guide and the slides, and you're ready.
Coach, don't lecture.
Guided questions and sample language keep the caregiver talking and thinking with you.
Practice is built in.
Caregivers rehearse First/Then with you before they try it at home.
What's inside your free lesson
Slide Deck
14 slides to screen share, with real-life examples, a troubleshooting slide, and a "try it out" practice slide.
Full lesson plan
Your complete session guide, with guided questions, reflective listening statements, model scripts, and practice steps.
Session at a Glance
Once you know the flow, use this one-page version instead. Less flipping, more eye contact.
Parent handout
First/Then in plain language, three things to remember, and a weekly tracker caregivers bring back.
Extra resources
A ready-to-print visual families can use at home the same day.
Good Fit Questionnaire
A quick way for caregivers to tell you whether a strategy fits their family's values and daily life, so you can adjust before they give up on it.
All in one PDF, delivered to your inbox right away.
A small strategy that builds big trust
First/Then is often the first tool caregivers try that works the same week. That early win matters. It builds their confidence, and their trust in you, for everything you'll teach next.
Behavior analysts use this lesson to:
Give caregivers a quick win early in parent training
Turn hard moments like transitions and car seats into calmer routines
Teach the difference between a heads-up and a bribe
Practice the skill in session instead of only talking about it
Check whether the plan fits the family before they give up on it
And it shows you what every lesson in the ABA Parent Coaching Toolkit feels like.
This is for you if:
You're a behavior analyst who coaches parents or caregivers
You want parent sessions that feel like a conversation, not a lecture
You're tired of building materials from scratch for every family
You believe caregivers follow through on plans they help create
This is not for…
Parents looking for help at home (we have resources for you at pwaba.org!)
RBT-only audiences
Anyone looking for compliance-only or discipline scripts
These materials are designed for behavior analysts providing caregiver coaching and parent support.
Meet the behavior analyst behind the Toolkit
Leanne Page, BCBA-LBA
I started as a special education teacher and have spent the last 15 years as a behavior analyst. I'm also a mom, so I know a strategy has to fit real family life before anyone will stick with it. I built the ABA Parent Coaching Toolkit so behavior analysts can spend less time making materials and more time listening, connecting, and helping caregivers feel capable.
Best-selling author of Parenting with Science, Enjoy Parenting, & The Calm & Connected Journal
BACB ACE Provider for 5 years, over 50 CEU courses taught focusing on compassionate ABA parent support
Founder of the Parent Support 101: Behavior Analyst Summit
