Written by Eugene Tng, QASP-S, Programme Director at ABA LABS If your child's preschool or school has suggested a shadow aide, one of your first questions is probably about cost. Shadow support is usually needed for several hours a week, often over months, so the numbers add up quickly. Prices also vary widely between providers, which can make it hard to know what is reasonable. Here is a plain guide to what parents in Singapore typically pay, and what you are paying for. Wha

Written by Eugene Tng, QASP-S, Programme Director at ABA LABS If you're worried about your child's development, one of the first practical questions is: how much will an assessment cost, and how long will it take? In Singapore, the answer depends mostly on which route you take: public or private. Here's what to expect from each, so you can choose what's right for your family. What a Developmental Assessment Involves A developmental assessment looks at how your child is doing

Written by Eugene Tng, QASP-S, Programme Director at ABA LABS If your child has additional needs and is attending, or about to attend, a mainstream school, you may have come across the term "school shadow" and wondered what it actually involves. School shadowing is one of the most practical supports available for helping a child succeed in a mainstream setting, yet it's not widely understood. This post explains what it is, how it works, and how to know whether your child woul

Written by Eugene Tng, QASP-S, Programme Director at ABA LABS Cost is one of the first things parents want to know and one of the last things anyone explains clearly. It's a completely fair question, early intervention is often an ongoing commitment, and you need to plan. This post lays out, honestly, what shapes the cost of early intervention and ABA in Singapore, what subsidised options exist, and how to think about it without either panic or false reassurance. Why There's

Written by Eugene Tng, QASP-S, Programme Director at ABA LABS When you're choosing someone to work with your child, one thing deserves more attention than it usually gets: who, exactly, is delivering the therapy, and what are they qualified to do? The ABA field has specific credentials, and understanding them helps you make a safer, better-informed choice. This isn't about chasing letters after a name, it's about knowing that the person guiding your child's development genuin

Written by Eugene Tng, QASP-S, Programme Director at ABA LABS Once you've decided ABA could help your child, a practical fork in the road appears: should therapy happen at a centre, or in your own home? In Singapore, both models are available, and neither is universally "better." The right choice depends on your child, your goals, and your family's day-to-day reality. Here's an honest comparison to help you decide. 👉 Looking for ABA therapy in Singapore? See how our home pro

Written by Eugene Tng, QASP-S, Programme Director at ABA LABS When you first start looking for help, you quickly run into an alphabet soup of options, ABA, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and very little plain explanation of which does what. Does my child need one of these? Several? How do I even tell them apart? It's one of the most common and reasonable questions parents have, and the honest answer is that these therapies aren't rivals competing for the same job. They

Written by Eugene Tng, QASP-S, Programme Director at ABA LABS Booking your child's first ABA therapy session is a big step, and for most parents it comes with a knot of nerves. What will they do? Will my child cope? Will I be in the room? What if it doesn't go well? If you're picturing a clinical, intimidating environment, let this post put your mind at ease. A good first ABA session is gentle, child-led, and far more about getting to know your child than "doing therapy" to t

Written by Eugene Tng, QASP-S, Programme Director at ABA LABS Start With Your Child's Needs, Not the Label ABA tends to be most helpful when a child has clear, teachable goals. These can include building communication skills, developing play and social skills, increasing independence in daily living, or reducing behaviours that hinder their progress. If you can identify a few concrete things you'd love to see your child achieve, those are the kinds of goals a good programme s

Written by Eugene Tng, QASP-S, Programme Director at ABA LABS If you've started researching support for your child, you've probably come across Applied Behaviour Analysis, or ABA. You may also have come across strong opinions about it, some glowing, some critical, and a fair amount that's simply out of date or based on misunderstanding. ABA has a long history, and like any field that's been around for decades, it has evolved enormously. A lot of what circulates online describ

Written by Eugene Tng, QASP-S, Programme Director at ABA LABS Learn what typically happens during an ABA therapy session and how structured activities help children develop communication, social, and learning skills. What Happens During an ABA Therapy Session? When parents first consider therapy for their child, they often wonder what the experience will actually look like. A common question many parents ask is: “What happens during an ABA therapy session?” Understanding wha

Written by Eugene Tng, QASP-S, Programme Director at ABA LABS You've been through the assessment, waited for the write-up, and now you're holding a document full of scores, percentiles and clinical terms. For many parents, the report itself is more confusing than the assessment was. “What does any of this actually mean for my child?” This guide demystifies the typical developmental or psychological report so you can read it with understanding rather than anxiety. Start With t

Written by Eugene Tng, QASP-S, Programme Director at ABA LABS Learn how therapy intensity is determined in ABA therapy and why consistency and structured learning opportunities are important for skill development. How Many Hours of ABA Therapy Does a Child Need? When parents begin exploring therapy options for their child, one of the most common questions they ask is: “How many hours of ABA therapy does a child need?” The answer is not always the same for every child. Therap

Written by Eugene Tng, QASP-S, Programme Director at ABA LABS When parents notice that their child is struggling, they often feel caught in a waiting game. An assessment may be months away, and a common assumption follows: “We can't do anything until we have a diagnosis.” This belief is understandable, but it can cost valuable time. In reality, support can often begin well before a diagnosis is confirmed. A Diagnosis Describes; It Doesn't Unlock A diagnosis is useful. It can

Written by Eugene Tng, QASP-S, Programme Director at ABA LABS Learn how ABA therapy helps children develop communication, social interaction, and learning skills through structured and consistent learning opportunities. How ABA Therapy Helps Children Learn New Skills When parents begin exploring therapy options for their child, one common question often arises: “How does ABA therapy actually help children learn?” Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) focuses on understanding how

Written by Eugene Tng, QASP-S, Programme Director at ABA LABS Once a child has been assessed with developmental needs, many parents face a new and unfamiliar landscape of programmes, acronyms and subsidies. “What support is my child entitled to, and how do we access it?” This post explains how Singapore's early intervention system is structured, in plain language. If the term itself is new to you, start with our guide on what early intervention actually is. The System Is Buil

Written by Eugene Tng, QASP-S, Programme Director at ABA LABS Many parents first hear the term ABA therapy from a paediatrician, a preschool teacher or after a developmental assessment. At ABA LABS, the first question we hear is almost always the same: “What exactly is ABA therapy?” Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is a method used to support the development of essential skills such as communication, learning, and social interaction. ABA therapy focuses on understanding how b

Written by Eugene Tng, QASP-S, Programme Director at ABA LABS Learn how early intervention supports children with developmental delays and what research says about its impact on communication, learning, and social skills. Does Early Intervention Really Work? What Research Shows When parents first hear about early intervention, one of the most common questions they ask is: “Does early intervention really work?” Parents naturally want to understand whether developmental suppor

Written by Eugene Tng, QASP-S, Programme Director at ABA LABS Learn common signs that a child may benefit from early intervention, including communication delays, social interaction challenges, and developmental differences. Signs Your Child May Benefit From Early Intervention Many parents begin exploring developmental support when they notice that their child may be progressing differently from other children of the same age. This often leads to an important question: “How

Written by Eugene Tng, QASP-S, Programme Director at ABA LABS Learn when early intervention should begin, signs that children may benefit from early support, and why early developmental guidance can make a difference. When Should Early Intervention Start? When parents begin noticing developmental differences in their child, one of the most common questions they ask is: “When should early intervention start?” Some parents may feel unsure whether their child simply needs more