Growing Skills: How ABA and Farming Can Work Together
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) isn’t just for therapy centers or classrooms — it can grow and thrive anywhere, even on a farm. From caring for animals to planting seeds, farming provides endless opportunities to teach, practice, and master life skills for children and adults with developmental delays, autism, or other learning differences.
In this post, we’ll explore how ABA principles can blend with the routines and rhythms of farm life to create meaningful, hands-on learning.
Why Farming and ABA Work Well Together
Farming naturally provides structured, repeatable tasks, which align perfectly with ABA’s evidence-based teaching methods. Every activity — from feeding animals to watering plants — can be broken down into manageable steps and reinforced to build independence.
Key benefits include:
Natural Environment Teaching (NET): Skills are taught in real-life settings, making it easier for learners to generalize.
Routine and Predictability: Daily farm tasks help create consistent schedules that reduce anxiety and support learning.
Sensory-Rich Activities: The sights, sounds, and textures of the farm offer valuable sensory experiences that can be calming and engaging.
Physical Movement: Gross and fine motor skills are practiced during tasks like planting seeds, collecting eggs, or carrying feed.
ABA Strategies That Shine on the Farm
Here’s how ABA techniques can be applied in a farm setting:
1. Task Analysis
Breaking down farming jobs into smaller, teachable steps:
Planting a seed:
Scoop soil into a pot
Place seed in hole
Cover with soil
Water lightly
Each step can be taught, practiced, and reinforced until it’s mastered.
2. Positive Reinforcement
Celebrating successes, whether it’s completing chores independently or trying something new, keeps learners motivated. Reinforcers could include:
Extra time petting animals
A preferred snack after farm tasks
Praise or a visual “sticker chart” of progress
3. Visual Supports
Farming tasks can be supported with:
Picture schedules showing the order of chores
Color-coded bins or tools to make organization easy
Labels on animal feed or garden beds for independent matching
4. Social Skills in Action
Farming often requires teamwork. ABA therapists can prompt and reinforce:
Taking turns gathering eggs
Asking for help or offering help
Sharing tools or space
Real-Life Skill Development
Farming activities promote a wide range of functional skills, including:
Communication: Requesting items, asking for assistance, or describing what they see.
Fine Motor: Planting seeds, pouring water, closing gates, or fastening animal pens.
Gross Motor: Carrying buckets, pushing wheelbarrows, or raking leaves.
Executive Functioning: Planning tasks, problem-solving, and following multi-step instructions.
Success Story Example
One young learner began farm-based ABA sessions hesitant to touch the soil. Through gradual exposure, task analysis, and reinforcement, they went from observing others to planting and harvesting their own vegetables. Over time, the farm environment became a place of confidence, communication growth, and skill-building.
Tips for Implementing ABA on a Farm:
Start small: Introduce one or two tasks and build as confidence grows.
Use natural reinforcers: Let the reward connect to the task, like tasting fresh strawberries after picking them.
Collaborate: Work closely with behavior analysts, parents, and farm staff to create safe, goal-focused routines.
Track progress: Use data sheets or simple logs to monitor skill growth and independence.
The Harvest: Growth Beyond the Farm
Blending ABA with farming teaches more than just agricultural tasks — it fosters independence, communication, teamwork, and self-confidence. The structured-yet-natural environment of a farm allows individuals to build practical skills that can transfer to home, school, or community settings.
ABA is all about creating opportunities for learning. On the farm, those opportunities grow in abundance.
Check out this fun website to see what ABA on a farm may entail!
Care Farming for autism and special needs friends
https://cultivatinghopefarms.org/#:~:text=This%20innovative%20approach%20combines%20the%20therapeutic%20benefits%20of,develop%20essential%20life%20skills%20in%20a%20hands-on%20way.
Jessica Allen, RBT, Behavior Analyst Intern