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How to Build the Basics: 10 Essential Skills for Group Learning Success

group learning

When children transition to group learning environments – such as preschool or early elementary classrooms – it’s an exciting milestone for both them and their caregivers. However, group learning comes with its own set of challenges.

Kids must adapt to shared spaces, group dynamics, and structured activities while navigating their emotions and needs. For a child to thrive in these settings, they need certain foundational skills that make the learning process smoother and more enjoyable.

Whether you’re an ABA professional, educator, or caregiver, understanding these essential skills can help set children up for success in group learning environments. Let’s dive into the key areas to focus on and how to nurture these abilities.

Why is it Essential to Develop Foundational Skills First?

The benefit of developing these foundational skills before entering a group setting cannot be emphasized enough. While it’s natural for parents to prioritize social opportunities for their children, placing a learner in a classroom without the necessary readiness skills can sometimes backfire.

Children who lack these skills may struggle to engage, become easily overwhelmed or retreat into themselves rather than interacting with peers. In some cases, they may inadvertently disrupt the classroom dynamic, drawing attention for the wrong reasons or, worse, being overlooked entirely.

Through ABA therapy, children can build the confidence and abilities they need to participate meaningfully in group settings, ensuring they’re ready to learn, connect, and thrive alongside their peers. It’s best to gradually transition children from one-on-one interactions to small groups, then larger groups, before introducing them to a full preschool or school class, giving them the skills and confidence to thrive in more complex social settings.

1. Communication Skills: Expressing Wants & Needs

A classroom is a place full of communication. Children must be able to express their needs. This includes both verbal and non-verbal communication. A child who struggles to ask for help or share their thoughts might feel frustrated or isolated.

How to Support This Skill:

  • Teach functional communication skills, such as vocalizing or communication through pictures.
  • Teach appropriate ways to get attention in a group setting, such as raising their hand or tapping someone gently on the shoulder.
  • Encourage vocabulary development through structured teaching and natural environment opportunities.
  • Model and reinforce the desired communication skills.

2. Social Skills: Interacting with Peers & Adults

Group learning is inherently social. Children need to navigate relationships with peers and teachers, from taking turns to resolving conflicts. Social skills are fundamental not only for group activities but also for building friendships and creating a sense of belonging.

However, for children with autism, social development is typically very difficult. Teach sharing, but don’t wait until mastery to enter a group situation. Most social skills have to be taught in a group situation.

How to Support This Skill:

  • Play games that encourage turn-taking, like board games or interactive circle activities.
  • Reinforce positive social behaviors, such as sharing or helping a friend.
  • Practice positive transitions by building in lots of opportunities to transition from activity to activity in everyday life.

3. Following Instructions: Continuing to Build Essential Language Skills

Understanding and following instructions are vital for a child’s success in a structured preschool environment. Tasks like “Get your coat,” “Sit down,” or “Pick a book” require children to quickly process and act on directions from teachers and peers. The ability to follow these instructions without frustration or negative behavior forms the foundation of classroom readiness.

How to Support This Skill:

  • Start with simple, one-step instructions like, “Touch your nose” or “Clap your hands” to build confidence.
  • Use visual supports, such as picture cues, to pair with verbal commands.
  • Practice following directions in a 1:1 setting if the skill isn’t emerging naturally.
  • Reinforce targeted skills with praise or a small reward to motivate the child.

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    4. Imitation: Learning Through Observation

    Imitation is a key skill for group learning, allowing children to observe and replicate the behaviors, actions, or words of others. It helps with acquiring new skills and understanding group norms. For example, think of a song with motions, such as The Wheels on The Bus.

    How to Support This Skill:

    • Play “copycat games,” like mirroring movements or sounds.
    • Use modeling to demonstrate tasks before asking a child to try them.
    • Reinforce successful imitation with reinforcement.

    5. First/Then Contingency: Understanding Expectations

    The “first/then” principle (or Premack Principle) is a strategy that motivates learners to complete less preferred tasks by linking them to more preferred tasks, which is crucial for navigating group routines. For example, “First clean up, then go to recess.” “First I do (something you ask), then I get (something I want).”

    How to Support This Skill:

    • Use visual boards or verbal prompts to outline simple first/then scenarios.
    • Start with preferred activities in the “then” position to motivate participation.
    • Gradually expand to more complex contingencies as the child progresses.

    6. Basic Play Skills: Engaging in Group Activities

    Group learning often involves play-based activities. Basic play skills, such as sharing materials, following rules, or participating in pretend play, are critical for engaging with peers and the curriculum.

    How to Support This Skill:

    • Facilitate structured play sessions where you guide turn-taking and sharing.
    • Provide opportunities for cooperative play, such as building a block tower together.
    • Encourage imaginative play to help children explore creativity and problem-solving.

    7. Allowing Others in Their Space: Continue to Encourage Social Learning

    School is full of opportunities for social interaction, but this requires children to accept and engage with others in shared spaces. A child who turns away or resists when peers or teachers approach misses chances to learn through observation or interaction. Becoming comfortable with parallel play can create a pathway to more active engagement and imitation.

    How to Support This Skill:

    • Encourage side-by-side preferred activities like building blocks or coloring to introduce parallel play.
    • Model interactions with toys or language and reinforce when the child accepts their peers nearby.
    • Use sensory accommodations, such as noise-reduction headphones, if the child becomes overwhelmed in group settings.
    • Gradually increase exposure to group activities, starting with smaller groups and building up as the child becomes more comfortable.

    8. Independent Play: Building Confidence & Focus

    While group activities are important, children also need to be able to play independently. Independent play fosters self-confidence, creativity, and the ability to focus on tasks without constant supervision.

    How to Support This Skill:

    • Set up a designated play area with engaging, developmentally appropriate toys.
    • Allow unstructured playtime while providing gentle encouragement if the child gets stuck.
    • Highlight their ability to play or complete tasks on their own.

    9. Attention and Focus: Staying Engaged in Activities

    Paying attention is crucial in a group setting where distractions abound. Children need to listen to the teacher, follow along with activities, and stay on task even when other kids are playing nearby. At this age level, students will need to be able to wait in line or for a snack, as well as sit for short periods of time.

    How to Support This Skill:

    • Break tasks into smaller, manageable steps to hold their attention.
    • Use visual schedules to provide a clear structure.
    • Gradually increase the length of time a child is expected to focus on a task.

    10. Build Regulation: Strengthening Self-Control & Emotional Balance

    Flexibility and coping skills are vital for success in the dynamic environment of a classroom. With constant changes and unexpected shifts, the ability to adapt and pivot ensures both students and educators can remain resilient, focused, and effective.

    How to Support This Skill:

    • Teach calming strategies through modeling.
    • Don’t teach in the moment; teach while a student is calm.
    • Use of visual cues as reminders.
    • Differentially reinforce when students use calming strategies in the natural environment (even if prompted)

    Every child is unique, and the time it takes to develop these skills can vary widely. Early intervention and consistent practice are key. The more opportunities children have to practice these abilities in safe, supportive environments, the more confident they’ll feel when stepping into group learning situations.

    For ABA professionals, these foundational skills can also guide individualized treatment plans by targeting areas where a child may need extra support. You’re not only helping them succeed academically but also fostering lifelong abilities that extend far beyond the classroom.


    Group learning can be a fantastic experience for children when they are equipped with the right skills. By focusing on communication, imitation, play, and emotional regulation, you’re setting them up for success. As professionals, caregivers, or educators, we have the power to create environments that celebrate growth, encourage connection, and make learning a joy for every child.

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