Should you contrive teaching situations in Natural Environment Training (NET)?

In Natural Environment Training (NET), the primary goal is to facilitate learning in a naturally occurring context rather than contriving or artificially setting up situations. The essence of NET is to capitalize on the natural interactions and activities that occur in a child's everyday environment, which makes the learning experience more meaningful and relevant to the child.

Teaching in natural settings allows for more spontaneous learning opportunities, as children can connect what they are learning with real-life situations, promoting generalization of skills. By using the child's interests, routines, and everyday encounters, practitioners can help the child learn in a way that feels organic and authentic, fostering engagement and motivation.

While there may be instances where some level of contrivance is minimal and supports the process (closely linked to the 'Only if necessary' choice), the focus is typically on utilizing the child's existing environment. This approach maximizes the likelihood that skills learned will be maintained and utilized in real-world scenarios.