Least to Most Prompt Hierarchy

A “response prompt” is assistance provided by an adult to elicit a child to make a correct action step while learning or engaging in an activity.
There are several levels of prompts and they are identified to be least to most intrusive in a “prompt hierarchy.” Depending on someone’s training and experience, the prompt hierarchy may vary a bit.
In general, the least intrusive prompt is always provided first and then you must give the child an opportunity (15-30 seconds) to process information and make an attempt to do the desired action before moving on and giving him or her the next prompt in the hierarchy.
The ultimate goal is to faded prompts over time as the child learns how to do each step of the activity to his or her highest level of independence.
In this video our least to most restrictive prompt hierarchy is the following:
1. Independent = the child does not need any assistance
2. Gestural Prompt = point or tap to direct the child’s visual attention
3. Verbal Prompt = say the action: “Open” or “Put In”
4. Modeling = do a verbal or physical demonstration of the action
5. Partial physical prompt = tactile assistance such as a tap at the elbow or hand
6. Full physical prompt = hand over hand assistance