RBT Pairing Guides

A practitioner guide that walks RBTs through the process of building trust, safety, and connection with children — organized by developmental stage and grounded in neuroaffirming practice.

Each chapter covers a specific age band — toddlers (ages 1–3), early childhood (ages 3–7), and preteens (ages 8–12) — with pairing tips, play ideas, and fillable planning sheets. A closing chapter covers what not to do during pairing, how to know when pairing is working, and how to bridge pairing into teaching.

What You’ll Learn

• What pairing is — and why it’s relational, not transactional
• Age-specific pairing strategies and play ideas for three developmental stages
• How to plan pairing sessions using the fillable planning sheets
• Common mistakes to avoid during pairing
• How to recognize when pairing is working
• How to bridge pairing into teaching once trust is established

Who Is This For

RBTs and behavior staff looking for a structured, neuroaffirming approach to building connection with new clients — and the BCBAs who supervise them.

📤 Share this guide with every RBT on your team — available for free, no subscription required.