Prompting with Purpose: How Little Nudges Lead to Big Success

When parents hear the word prompting, it might sound technical or clinical. But at its heart, prompting is simply helping - helping your child do something they’re not quite ready to do on their own. In Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), prompting is a powerful tool used to teach children new skills, encourage independence, and reduce frustration along the way. Whether it's brushing teeth, answering questions, putting on a jacket, or making a request, every new behaviour your child learns usually starts with a prompt.

What is Prompting?

A prompt is any cue or assistance that helps a child perform a desired behaviour. Prompts can be physical (like guiding their hands), verbal (giving a hint or instruction), visual (like a picture schedule), gestural (like pointing), or modeled (demonstrating the behaviour yourself). Think of prompts as training wheels - they help stabilize your child until they can balance the skill on their own.

Why Do We Use Prompts in ABA?

Prompts build success. They prevent errors, reduce frustration, and allow your child to access reinforcement sooner. When a child experiences success with a skill, even with help, they’re more motivated to try again.

Rather than waiting for your child to figure something out and risk them feeling overwhelmed or defeated, prompts gently guide them toward the right response. And over time, we systematically fade those prompts, until your child is doing the task independently.

Types of Prompts Parents Might Use at Home

• Physical Prompt: Helping your child zip a coat by guiding their hands

• Verbal Prompt: Saying “Say ‘cookie’” to encourage a request

• Gestural Prompt: Pointing to where the toy is stored

• Model Prompt: Demonstrating how to wave goodbye

• Visual Prompt: Using a “first-then” chart or picture schedule

Each type of prompt has a place depending on the skill, your child’s learning style, and how much support they need.

Prompting Without Prompt Dependence

A common concern parents have is, “Will my child become dependent on prompts?” The answer lies in how prompts are used. In ABA, we use prompt hierarchies and prompt fading procedures to make sure that your child doesn't rely on help forever.

We might start with the most supportive prompt (like physical assistance) and gradually move to less intrusive ones (like gestures or visuals), until your child no longer needs help at all. This method ensures independence is always the goal. For example, let’s say you’re teaching your child to wash their hands.

1. You first physically prompt them through each step - turning on the tap, applying soap, rubbing hands.

2. Over time, you fade to just verbal prompts like “Now rinse” or “Dry your hands.”

3. Eventually, you move to visual supports like a hand-washing chart with pictures.

4. Finally, you fade all prompts and your child can wash hands on their own.

Each step is a small success, and every small success builds confidence and competence.

Tips for Parents Using Prompts at Home

• Be consistent. Use the same prompt for the same task until your child begins to master it.

• Don’t over-prompt. Give your child a chance to respond before jumping in with help.

• Always fade. Your goal is to reduce help over time, not increase it.

• Reinforce effort. Praise or reward even small attempts, especially early on.

• Pair prompts with patience. Learning takes time. Let your child go at their pace while keeping expectations clear.

Prompting is not just about teaching skills, it’s about protecting your child’s sense of capability. Instead of leaving them to struggle, prompting shows, “I believe you can do this, and I’m here to help until you can.”

At Nova, we see prompting as a bridge between frustration and success, confusion and clarity, fear and confidence. Every prompt, when done correctly, becomes a step closer to independence, and every independent step is a reason to celebrate.

Your child doesn’t have to leap over every hurdle right away. Sometimes, all it takes is a gentle nudge in the right direction.