What makes a good ABA goal?
A strong ABA goal is specific, observable, and measurable. It should say what the child will do, under what conditions, how much help is allowed, and what counts as mastery.
A vague goal is "improve communication." A stronger goal is "when offered two preferred items, the child will choose one by pointing, reaching, or using a word in 4 out of 5 opportunities across three sessions."
Goals should also matter in real life. The best goals help your child communicate, participate, stay safe, become more independent, or enjoy connection with others.
ABA communication goal examples
- Request a preferred item using a word, sign, picture, device, or gesture in 8 out of 10 opportunities.
- Choose between two items by pointing, reaching, or naming the item in 4 out of 5 opportunities.
- Ask for help when an item is unavailable or difficult to use in 4 out of 5 opportunities.
- Label 20 common household objects across two people and two rooms.
- Follow 10 familiar one-step directions without prompts in 80% of opportunities.
Communication goals are often the best place to start because they reduce frustration and open the door to many other skills.
Social and play goal examples
- Take three back-and-forth turns with an adult using a simple toy or game.
- Imitate one new play action with a toy, such as rolling a car or feeding a doll.
- Respond to name by looking toward the speaker in 4 out of 5 opportunities.
- Greet a familiar person with a wave, word, or device response with no more than one prompt.
- Participate in a shared activity for 3 minutes with adult support.
Social goals should respect the child's comfort. The goal is not to force eye contact or make a child act less autistic. The goal is to build useful connection and participation.
Imitation goal examples
- Copy 10 simple actions with objects, such as tap block, roll car, or put spoon in cup.
- Copy 10 gross motor actions, such as clap, wave, stomp, jump, or touch head.
- Copy 5 simple sounds or word approximations during play.
- Imitate a two-step action sequence with a familiar toy in 4 out of 5 opportunities.
Imitation is a foundation skill. When a child learns to copy, they can learn more easily from parents, therapists, siblings, and peers.
Daily living goal examples
- Wash hands by completing 5 of 7 steps with no more than one prompt per step.
- Pull pants up after toileting with partial physical help in 4 out of 5 opportunities.
- Use a spoon to take 10 bites with minimal spilling during meals.
- Put shoes in the correct location after arriving home in 4 out of 5 opportunities.
- Brush teeth for 20 seconds with adult prompting and reinforcement.
Daily living goals are powerful because they reduce stress for the whole family and build independence one step at a time.
Behavior goal examples
Behavior goals should focus on teaching a replacement skill, not just reducing a behavior. If a child screams to escape a task, a useful goal might teach requesting a break.
- Request a break using a card, word, sign, or device before leaving the table.
- Use a help response when a toy is difficult instead of throwing it.
- Transition from a preferred activity to a routine task with a visual cue and one prompt.
- Wait for 30 seconds for a preferred item using a timer or token board.
For unsafe or severe behavior, parents should work with a qualified professional. Home practice can support a plan, but it should not replace individualized clinical guidance.
Frequently asked questions
How many ABA goals should a child work on at once?
Many families do best with 3 to 6 active home goals. Too many goals can make practice inconsistent.
What does mastery mean?
Mastery usually means the child can do the skill accurately, with little or no prompting, across more than one session, person, or setting.
Can parents write ABA goals?
Parents can write practical home goals and share them with providers. Clinical treatment goals should be developed or reviewed by qualified professionals.