Small Steps: Cognitive and Social Skills Acquisition

Using the \"Small Steps\" methodology and task analysis to teach complex self-care and social skills to neurodivergent children.

Task Analysis and the Small Steps Approach

For children with developmental delays, instructions like "put on your coat" feel overwhelming, triggering avoidance.

Task Analysis breaks a skill into its smallest physical steps. For handwashing: 1. Turn on faucet, 2. Wet hands, 3. Apply soap, 4. Rub hands, 5. Rinse, 6. Turn off faucet, 7. Dry hands.

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Forward and Backward Chaining

Teach skills using "Forward Chaining" (starting with step 1) or "Backward Chaining" (completing all steps except the last, letting the child finish it for immediate success).

For example, when putting on socks, pull the sock up to the heel and let the child pull it up, letting them feel they completed the task.

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