In ABA therapy, both shaping and chaining are used to teach new skills, but they work in different ways.
Shaping focuses on gradual improvement. A child is reinforced for small steps that get closer and closer to the target behavior. For example, if a child is learning to say a word, reinforcement may start with any sound, then clearer sounds, and eventually the full word. Shaping is helpful when a skill doesn’t exist yet and needs to be built from the ground up.

Chaining, on the other hand, breaks a skill into clear steps and teaches them in sequence. Think of brushing teeth. Each steppicking up the toothbrush, adding toothpaste, brushing, rinsing is taught individually and then linked together. Chaining works best when a task has a defined beginning and end.
In short, shaping builds behaviors gradually, while chaining teaches step-by-step routines. ABA therapists choose the approach based on your child’s needs, learning style, and the goal being worked on.
At Connect N Care ABA, our team uses evidence-based strategies like shaping and chaining to help children through ABA therapy in North Carolina and Virginia to build real-life skills at home, in school, and in the community.
Ready to get started? Contact us today!
SOURCE:
https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/shaping-in-aba/?srsltid=AfmBOops3enno_P1tYNeJEtW2L2Ml0nZQEgv8X_KXW_92Yiem20uu4ef
https://unexpectedangles.weebly.com/fading-shaping-and-chaining.html
https://www.bbbautism.com/aba_shaping_and_chaining.htm
https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-difference-between-chaining-shaping-and-reinforcement
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaping_(psychology)
