In what situations is most-to-least prompting usually most effective?

Most-to-least prompting is typically most effective when skills or behaviors are new or when the child is struggling. This approach involves providing a higher level of support at the beginning and systematically reducing that support as the learner gains competence.

When a child is introduced to a new skill, they often lack the knowledge or experience necessary to perform the behavior independently. By starting with a strong prompt, such as hand-over-hand assistance, the child can successfully engage in the task, which builds their confidence and understanding of the activity. As the child becomes more adept, gradually reducing the level of prompt encourages independence and mastery of the skill.

This method is particularly beneficial because it caters to the learning curve associated with new tasks and acknowledges the challenges the child may face. As they gain proficiency, less assistance fosters the development of their problem-solving and critical thinking skills, which are essential for autonomous learning.

In contrast, the other situations listed do not align as closely with the most-to-least prompting technique. For instance, when skills have been mastered previously, the emphasis shifts toward independent practice rather than prompting.