When your child is newly diagnosed with autism, you may suddenly face a cascade of questions and decisions you never expected to make. One of the most pressing is: what kind of therapy schedule will be best for my child?
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy can be delivered in a range of settings and schedules. Some families start with short, home-based sessions of one to three hours. Others consider half-day clinic programs. And some choose a full-day, center-based program, typically around 30 or more hours per week.
Each approach has value. But for many preschool-aged children, research and lived experience suggest that full-day programs provide the consistency, immersion, and variety of opportunities needed to make the most meaningful gains. Still, there are real considerations parents should weigh, and every child is unique.
This article will walk through the evidence, address common concerns, and explain how Stride Autism Centers approaches full-day ABA therapy with flexibility, joy, and family-centered care.
Why the Number of Hours Matters
ABA is a practice-based therapy, which means children learn and reinforce skills through repeated opportunities in natural and structured contexts. More time in therapy generally means more chances to practice.
A large body of research supports this. For example:
- A 2021 systematic review in Frontiers in Psychology found that children who received higher-intensity ABA (30+ hours per week) showed greater improvements across cognitive, language, and adaptive domains than those in lower-intensity programs.
- Many clinical programs and insurance guidelines are based on this evidence, often recommending between 25–40 hours per week of ABA for young children.
- Of course, more hours are not always better for every child. Some may thrive with fewer hours, especially when other therapies are also part of the picture. The key is to match the schedule to your child’s needs and your family’s circumstances.
What Immersion Looks Like
When children participate in a full-day program, the extra time is not about “drilling” or sitting at a desk for long stretches. Instead, it’s about immersion: creating multiple, varied opportunities across the day to practice communication, social, and self-care skills in ways that feel natural and engaging.
At Stride, immersion also means learning through joy. Children in our centers get to:
- Play games that encourage turn-taking, sharing, and communication.
- Create crafts that build fine motor skills while also sparking imagination.
- Join group activities that make practicing social interactions exciting.
- Experience special clinic-wide adventures like riding “Stride Airways” (our pretend airplane complete with boarding passes and snacks), enjoying carnival day, or visiting the local library with therapists and friends.
Because children are with peers and staff for a full day, they enjoy more variety, more creativity, and more opportunities to learn through play.
Common Concerns About Full-Day Programs
It’s natural to wonder whether your child is ready for an all-day schedule. Parents often share worries like:
“My child still naps.”
“They aren’t potty trained yet.”
“All day seems overwhelming.”
“We already have other therapy appointments.”
“Our work or family schedule doesn’t line up.”
These are valid concerns. In fact, they show how well you know your child and your family’s needs. The good news is that full-day programs can often be tailored with flexibility:
- At Stride, we meet children exactly where they are. If your child needs a nap, we build it into the day. If they arrive in pajamas, that’s fine, we’ll help with transitions. If toileting is a work-in-progress, we practice those routines with patience and consistency.
- Our Stride360 program brings speech and occupational therapy into the same center, reducing the need for separate appointments. This means your child can receive multidisciplinary support in a coordinated way, and you have fewer logistical hurdles to manage. Stride360 is now offered in all of our Nebraska clinics and is rolling out in Iowa, South Dakota, and Chicagoland.
- And here’s an important note: at Stride, we focus solely on full-day programs because we see the profound benefits they provide. We don’t offer half-day schedules, but we are always happy to talk with you about your family’s needs and work around scheduling concerns to make therapy possible.
Preparing for Kindergarten and Beyond
Early childhood is a critical window for development. Skills practiced in these years can lay the groundwork for independence, learning, and social connection throughout life.
Full-day ABA programs, with their immersive structure, often give children the best preparation for school. In fact, Stride’s data show that children in our programs make gains at twice the rate of national ABA averages, and 94% of parents report meaningful improvements in communication.
And beyond the numbers, the impact is felt at home: children who can express themselves more clearly, manage daily routines, and engage with peers are better equipped for the challenges and joys of kindergarten.
Finding the Right Fit
Choosing between full-day and partial-day ABA therapy is not just a clinical decision, it’s an emotional one. As a parent, you know your child best, and you carry the weight of wanting to make the right choice.
What’s important is to have a trusted partner who respects your knowledge, provides clear information, and offers high-quality, joyful options. At Stride, we aim to be that partner:
- Full-day immersion with joyful, real-world practice.
- Games, crafts, and adventures that make learning fun.
- Multidisciplinary services (ABA, speech, OT) through Stride360.
- A warm, child-centered approach that celebrates each child’s progress and meets families where they are.
We’re Here to Help your Child Thrive
Whether you’re just starting to explore ABA therapy or are weighing full-day against shorter options, know this: your decision is a powerful step in supporting your child’s growth.
The research is clear that more immersive ABA can yield greater developmental outcomes, and at Stride we have seen firsthand how full-day programs help children thrive not only in communication and self-care, but also in confidence, joy, and readiness for school.
Our focus is on creating full-day programs filled with opportunities for growth, creativity, and fun, supported by caring staff and multidisciplinary services like Stride360. We’ll be here to walk alongside you every step of the way.
