At Circle City ABA, we celebrate every win, no matter how big or small. Today, we are sharing the story of a young child who made incredible progress in just one month of therapy. When this client first arrived, one behavior immediately stood out. Every time he saw a toy bin, he would dump its contents onto the floor. Instead of playing, he ignored the toys and moved on. He refused to clean up toys after dumping them. During his first session, this behavior occurred 35 times in total.
His mother shared that this happened frequently at home as well. With two other children, it became harder to keep the house clean. This same behavior also occurred at speech therapy, especially when it was time to leave. Clean-up time often ended with tantrums and stress.
But in only a few weeks, everything began to change.
Please note: Therapy is a highly personal experience, and, like any other treatment, results are not uniform. Several factors determine whether a child will benefit from therapy, including individual characteristics, the nature of their needs, and the quality of support they receive at home and/or school.
ABA Therapy and Reducing Toy-Dumping Behaviors
In his first sessions, our team focused on helping the child reduce his dumping behavior. We paired play with gentle structure and encouragement. We worked on helping him make better choices and taught him how to respond when asked to clean up toys.
Each day, the number of toy dumps got lower. Our team tracked his progress and celebrated small steps forward. His therapists used fun, simple routines to make clean-up feel like part of the play. They also gave clear instructions and offered positive feedback for following through.
Over time, the child began to respond differently. Instead of dumping toys, he started playing with them. When asked to clean up toys, he listened. The tantrums became fewer and eventually stopped.
Generalizing Clean Up Skills to Home and Other Settings
One of the biggest wins came when his mother shared the progress happening at home. She told us that her son was now cleaning up after himself without a fight. She could give a simple instruction like “clean up your toys,” and he would do it without melting down.
This progress wasn’t just happening at our center. It also shows up during speech therapy. His mother shared how much easier transitions had become. What used to feel like a battle now felt manageable.
He had officially achieved his goal of no longer dumping toys. Even better, he had generalized the skill, meaning he used it across multiple settings, not just in one place.
Why This Real-Life Transformation Matters
This story may seem simple. However, for many families, tasks like cleaning up toys can become a significant daily challenge. It creates tension, stress, and disruption for everyone involved.
Through ABA therapy, we helped this child build new habits that brought peace back to the home. He learned to follow through with tasks, respond to requests, and manage big feelings around transitions.
These kinds of wins are what make ABA therapy so powerful. Each goal leads to greater independence, confidence, and connection.
Want to Start ABA Therapy with Circle City ABA?
If your child struggles with daily tasks such as cleaning up, transitioning between activities, or following instructions, ABA therapy may be beneficial.
At Circle City ABA, we create therapy plans tailored to what matters most to your family. Our team utilizes play-based learning and personalized goals to support children’s growth. We currently serve families across Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, and Nebraska, with 27 locations and a supportive admissions team ready to guide you. Contact our admissions team for more information on our services and how we can support you and your child.
*Our Arizona ABA Therapy locations are equipped to serve individuals with an autism spectrum disorder and other developmental diagnoses. Our Scottsdale ABA Center focuses explicitly on teens (13+) and adults.
Disclaimer: Every child is different. This story reflects the progress of one individual. Outcomes may vary based on several factors, including the child’s unique needs and the level of support they receive.
