How to use "Prompts" and "Fading" to teach Independence

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by Merely Me
Monday, January 18, 2010

The other way some people teach a task is to use physical prompts until you feel that the child understands the sequence of tasks and then gradually fading those prompts.  By fading I mean that you would begin to use less invasive prompts such as a verbal gesture (Point to faucet and say "turn it on.")  The whole goal is to eventually use as little prompts or cues as possible so that your child ends up doing the entire sequence of steps on his or her own.

The technique of fading is when you gradually reduce the cues, prompts, and even your physical presence so that the child is as independent as they can be when performing a task or goal. 

For example, let's say you are teaching your adolescent child to go grocery shopping.  They are doing just fine about performing each individual step involved in purchasing several items on a shopping list but you are always physically there for each step.  In this case you have to truly gage whether you are able to remove your physical presence.  There may be safety or behavioral reasons why you may not wish to do so.  But it is much more to your child's advantage if they can do daily chores by themselves.  Fading out in this case may involve distancing yourself physically throughout the store.  You can do things like be in the produce area when they are selecting fruits and vegetables on their list but not right beside them.  To increase fading you might let your child know, "I will be waiting for you at the check out line" as you allow them to select their groceries independently.  The next step might be to tell your child, "I will be waiting here in the car, go shopping!"  Of course how this all transpires fully depends upon you and your child.  There may be some situations where you would never fade out for some individuals such as allowing them to cross streets independently when they do not show any understanding of danger.

For some children and adults with learning disabilities, there may be some tasks or goals where they are unable to become fully independent.  But the key is to allow them to experience as much independence as they are capable.  This means that you provide only as much support as they actually require.  Sometimes it is a difficult gage to measure but it is good to always be thinking in the back of your mind, "My child can do this but can he or she do it on their own?"  Using the behavioral techniques of prompting and fading can help make this process a little easier and less frustrating for everyone involved.

I hope this has been helpful and I will be writing more instructional posts such as this one.  I am grateful to be able to share my teaching experience with you.  Please do not hesitate to share your experiences with teaching your child with us here.  We all have something we can learn from one another and we also love hearing your stories.  We want to hear from you!