Natural Environment Teaching (NET): Why Play is Powerful

When parents think of ABA therapy, they often imagine sitting at a desk or working through flashcards, but that’s not always the best way children learn. 

At Essential Speech and ABA Therapy, one of the most powerful tools we use is called Natural Environment Teaching (NET). It simply means teaching during everyday moments—especially through play.

What is NET?

Natural Environment Teaching (NET) is a way of teaching skills in the settings where children naturally spend their time: on the floor, in the playroom, during snack time, or even outside at play.

In addition to teaching a child to label a ball by showing them a picture of one on a flashcard, we might teach the same skill while they’re actually playing with a ball.

We follow the child’s motivation and use their interests as the teaching moment.

NET helps children connect learning to the real world. And when something feels fun and meaningful, kids are more likely to remember it, and use it again later.

Why is play so important?

Play is a child’s language. It’s how they explore, interact, and learn about the world. When we use play as part of ABA, we’re not just “letting them have fun”—we’re building skills like:

• Communication (asking for help, labeling items, making choices)

• Social interaction (taking turns, sharing, joining play)

• Problem solving (figuring out how to ask or wait for something)

• Flexibility (dealing with change or unexpected outcomes)

Play gives us a natural, low-pressure way to practice these skills and generalize them to new settings—like home, daycare, or the community.

What does this look like in a session?

During an ABA session using NET, you might see your child’s technician sitting on the floor playing with cars or dolls. But look closely, and you’ll notice they’re embedding goals throughout the interaction—prompting your child to ask for a toy, describe what they’re doing, or follow directions while building a tower.

We’re always working on goals, but we’re doing it in a way that feels natural, enjoyable, and meaningful to your child.

Final Thoughts

At Essential Speech and ABA Therapy, we believe that learning should be fun. NET allows us to teach important life skills through your child’s favorite activities—making therapy not just effective, but also something your child looks forward to.

Because when learning happens in the natural environment, it’s more likely to stick, and more likely to show up when it matters most.