Part II
In-Home Survival:
Building Independence With Skills
My
Child Has Learned How To Do Something
Now what?
Generalization
Students have a skill when they …….
Generalization
Learned skills need to be transferred to different settings to enable your child to use skills for different tasks.
For example:
As your child learns to wash their hands in the washroom they do not realize they can wash their hands in the kitchen. They have not generalized the skill.
This process is called generalization.
Generalization becomes the new learning and often has to be taught.
Acquisition
Mastery
Generalization
Maintenance
4 Levels of Learning
Learn a new skill
Get faster and more accurate
Use the skill in multiple settings
(different people, locations, objects, and placements)
Continue using the skill over time (use it or lose it)
I have a skill!
This is hard and new!
I’m getting better/faster at it!
I know this. I did it at school.
People
Location
Objects
Placement
Generalization Experimentation: Think P.L.O.P.
Is your child able to do the task with different people?
(teacher, TA, parent, sibling, grandparent etc.)
Is your child able to do the task in different locations?
(school, home, community etc.)
Is your child able to do the task using different objects?
(writing with a pen, pencil, marker etc.)
Is your child able to do the task when the placement is different?
(at their desk, on the carpet, on the couch etc.)
Placement
Location
Objects
People
Generalization (PLOP)
Your Child Has This Skill When….
Mom asks them to wash their hands in the upstairs washroom when the liquid soap dispenser is on the right side of the sink.
People
Mom
Location
Upstairs
washroom
Object
Liquid soap in a pump container
Placement
On the right side of the sink
Skill
Washes own hands
When Others Say Your Child Can’t Do Something, it May be Because ….
Example:
“Your child may not wash their hands when dad asks them.”
Generalize The Skill To Different People
Teaching Generalization for Handwashing - People
Structuring the hand washing so that dad is also able to direct your child to wash their hands.
People
Mom
+
Dad
Location
Upstairs
washroom
Object
Liquid soap in a pump container
Placement
On the right side of the sink
Skill
Washes own hands when asked by mom and dad
Adding Dad as a new person.
Same
Same
Same
Example:
“Your child may not wash their hands in the downstairs washroom.”
Generalize The Skill To Different Locations
Teaching Generalization for Handwashing - Location
Structuring the hand washing so that your child is able to use both the upstairs washroom and downstairs washroom.
People
Mom
Location
Upstairs
Washroom + Downstairs Washroom
Object
Liquid soap in a pump container
Placement
On the right side of the sink
Skill
Washes own hands in the upstairs and downstairs washroom
Adding the downstairs washroom as a new location.
Same
Same
Same
Example:
“Your child may not wash their hands using bar soap.”
Generalize The Skill To Different Objects
Teaching Generalization for Handwashing - Objects
Structuring the hand washing so that your child uses both the liquid soap in a pump container and a bar of soap.
People
Mom
Location
Upstairs
Bathroom
Object
Liquid soap in a pump container
+ bar of soap
Placement
On the right side of the sink
Skill
Washes own hands using liquid soap and a bar of soap
Adding the bar of soap as a new object.
Same
Same
Same
Example:
“Your child may not wash their hands using a soap dispenser located on the wall.”
Generalize The Skill To Different Placements
Teaching Generalization for Handwashing - Placement
Structuring the hand washing so that your child is able to use the soap dispenser beside the sink and on the wall.
People
Mom
Location
Upstairs
Bathroom
Object
Liquid soap in a pump container
Placement
On the right side of the sink + on the wall
Skill
Washes own hands using soap on the right of sink and on the wall
Adding the wall dispenser as a new placement
Same
Same
Same
Additional Examples
Why Can My Child Do Puzzles Sometimes?
Generalization To Other People
Your child can read by themselves, with a parent, with a sibling, and with a peer.
Generalization To Other Locations
Your child can listen to music in the living room and their bedroom.
Generalization To Other Objects
Your child will drink from a juice cup, glass, mug or bottle.
| |
| |
Generalization To Other Placement
Location
| Put apples away in the fruit bowl |
| Put apples away in the fridge |
| Put apples away in the cold cellar |
Apples from grocery store
Your child can put apples away in a variety of placements.
Think Long-Term
Adulthood
Acquisition
Mastery
Generalization
Maintenance
4 Levels of Learning
Learn a new skill
Get faster and more accurate
Use the skill in multiple settings
(different people, locations, objects, and placements)
Continue using the skill over time (use it or lose it)
Selecting which aspect is most important.
Deciding which aspect of the skill to generalize is dependent upon the situation.
For example
People
Location
Object
Placement
Would it be helpful for your family if your child would perform skills for more people?
Do you need to use a room for work, so your child needs to be in a different room?
Is the store out of soap dispensers and you need your child to use a bar of soap?
Did you need to move where items are located because space is an issue?
If it’s worth teaching, it’s worth generalizing!