What is 'natural environment training' (NET)?

Natural environment training (NET) is an effective and practical approach in behavior analysis that focuses on teaching skills within a child's everyday life or natural settings rather than in contrived or artificial environments. This method emphasizes the importance of context in learning, as it allows for skills to be taught and practiced in the environments where they will ultimately be used. This strategy promotes generalization, meaning that the skills learned can be applied across various situations and settings, enhancing the likelihood of successful and functional behavior in the real world.

By using natural settings, practitioners can take advantage of spontaneous opportunities to teach and reinforce desired behaviors, making learning more relevant and immediate for the individual. This contrasts with approaches that focus on structured classrooms or artificial setups, which may not provide the same opportunities for skill application in real-life situations.