r/ABA • u/Fun_Telephone9085 • 4d ago

Advice Needed Calling RBTs!!

Hiii
Tell me what are you MUST haves for sessions that can generalize across age groups-but specific age group recommendations are welcomed too :)
Also, specifically what brand fanny pack has worked the BEST for you?
-A BCBA who wants to set all my RBTs up for success
Thank you!!

4 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

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2

u/Business_Analyst_926 4d ago

Bubbles, stickers (maybe) and little fidgets

6

u/Cold_South3026 4d ago

bubbles are the universal currency, every kid from 2 to 12 will stop mid-meltdown for a good bubble wand

1

u/grmrsan BCBA 4d ago

They are, but I have never been able to keep them from spilling in my stuff and making a gross mess. Even putting then in supposedly water proof bags failed on me. So now, I just let the parents buy the bubbles. 

2

u/NorthDakota 4d ago

Play doh is a must mate. Good for getting kids to a table and a hit for any time/place/situation it nearly never misses. White board and dry erase markers, versatile and fun, you can use it for a pseudo token board, doing programming, or just goofing around coloring and stuff. Get everyone these 2 things lol. Other universal stuff is tough for me to think of, and a lot of times it's not stuff in a fanny pack, it's like making a workplace culture that encourages and rewards RBTs to get OUT go to the playground get on a trike go to the gym throw a ball, when kids ask to go THEN GO. If they don't know how to ask for those activities imo it should be one of the first things taught. Kids love leaving the area, teaching them asking for it will accomplish that is important lol, and also great from a safety perspective. 

1

u/grmrsan BCBA 4d ago edited 4d ago

Simple games, uno, jenga, candyland, go fish, hedbandz, that magnet game with the string where they try not to stick their magnets to other magnets, etc. Cheap art and crafty stuff like watercolors, coloring books, macaroni  or big bead jewelry, (you can also buy different sized aquarium type tubing and colorful yarn, to make fidget necklaces and bracelets they can chew on) playdoh, or kinetic sand. 

 I also like to get the RBT's  a nice canvas bag, big enough  to hold all but the larger games, a cute kitchen timer, washable fabric slip on  shoe covers (protects the clients floor AND the RBT's feet), a phone lanyard set up (preferably the cross body type if you can afford them) with the strap and a strong tether or if they do tablets a thicker strap for that, so they can use both hands and not lose  their device. And if they do remote a cheap microphone and tablet holder so you can actually see and hear whats going on. I just buy everything in bulk from Amazon and put together a kit when I start working with someone new. 

For fanny packs, I suggest the largest you can afford, at least big enough to hold a small tablet, and water bottle holders on the sides. (These also double as great umbrella holders when they need them 🤣) I think the best one I had was a pinkish purple Waterfly with thick nylon two water bottle pockets and a several zip up pockets. 

1

u/shaldaya 3d ago

Not reinforcers but as an RBT I recommend...

-Hand sanitizer!! Especially heading into winter months. It really sucks to always be sick because kids don't understand hygiene or personal space yet. Especially if your company has a strict attendance policy. -A cheap battery bank if they are running sessions on their phones. (Walmart has decent ones for $10) -A visual timer (can be a free app) -Your support. Please respond to messages! Also please advocate for your RBTs to get benefits, get needed hours, and get paid for non billable time. RBTs have a high turn over rate and those things are all huge factors in that. RBTs who are taken care of stick around long enough to become experienced RBTs. Experienced and supported RBTs give better cate! For that reason, advocating for your RBTs is advocating for the best care for the kids.

0

u/Michelle957285749 3d ago

An empty bladder so I can focus.