In ABA-based interventions, a method of combining simple, component behaviors into a more complex, composite behavior. In forward chaining, the child is taught the first step in a complex behavior and is then guided through all of the remaining steps. As he becomes successful with the first step, the teacher begins to teach him the second step. When the child is doing the first to steps independently, he's taught the third, and so on until the child is able to sequence the entire behavior independently. See also backward chaining and task analysis.