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Physical Prompting “Think Abouts”
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Situation
I am using a prompt hierarchy from most to least with a student to teach eating with a spoon. But whenever I do hand-over-hand he jerks his hand away – how can I teach him?
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Summary
Use careful observation to note how to individualize prompting for students. Observe and note what the student can tolerate or cannot tolerate. When physical prompting is difficult for a student consider holding items near a student’s hand and allowing him/her to initiate contact, or touch other parts of the body to prompt guiding movement such as an elbow or arm.
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Definition
Physical Prompting “Think Abouts’ – simply means to carefully observe and note the type of physical prompting students can or cannot tolerate and devising alternate tolerable means of prompting.
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Quick Facts
- Child's Age: 3-5, 6-10
- Planning Effort: Low
- Difficulty Level: Easy
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Pre-requisites
none
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Process
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You want to provide hand-over-hand prompting for a student using a spoon for eating. The student pulls away each time you touch his hand. Attempt to place the spoon in the student’s hand.
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Do not continue with full physical prompting.
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Begin to gently prompt another part of the student such as his elbow.
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Continue with prompting the forearm gently to the student’s mouth.
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Check with an occupational therapist to advise regarding adaptive feeding equipment that might assist the student.
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