Small Steps to Help Your Loved One Progress
by
PSN Team 
Print This Article
Help your loved one progress
As families, we are always looking for the ‘big win,’ but they are hard to come by. And to feel like we are making progress, we must string several ‘big wins’ together. Many things have to go right, and a lot of luck and hard work goes into it – which is why feeling like you are making progress is rare for most families. You are left feeling disappointed.
In my coaching practice with families, we take a different approach: Small steps to progress. I’ll outline how it works.
First, we set 1-year goals because setting goals clarify what you want and give a direction to head toward. But goals also have a downside – if you don’t achieve the goal, you can become demotivated and give up. This can make you feel more stuck than you were before you started.
So we don’t stop there. Next, we create a three (3) month action plan with the exact steps to bring the goal to life. This is where the magic of making progress is – the small steps.
Let me give you an example. Let’s say your 1-year goal with your loved one is to help them become independent in making their own meals within the next 12 months. We want to simplify this goal into attainable steps with a 3-month action plan. So our 3-month action plan might be to support our loved one in learning how to make a simple breakfast meal. Okay, great, this is now feeling more attainable! Next, you want to outline the specific small steps. For example, Step 1: discuss 3 simple breakfast meals with loved one and have loved one pick the meal they want to learn. Step 2: Demonstrate how to make the meal for your loved one. Step 3: Instruct your loved one on how to make the meal and adapt the task as needed.
Step 4, Step 5, etc… you get the idea. And you can see how the small steps are the secret sauce to progress.
Give it a try! Set a 1-year goal and break it down with your small steps to get there!
If you want to learn more about supporting your loved one to grow, you’re invited to Eric’s free ‘Growing Independence Workshop’.
Our Readers Need to Know About You!
https://www.parentingspecialneeds.org/article/how-to-set-clear-goals-and-plan-naturally/
https://www.parentingspecialneeds.org/article/goals-and-plans-are-not-enough/
You May Also Like
- A Complete Guide on Positive Behavior Support for Children With Special Needs
- The Politics of Special Education: The Information You Need Right Now
- Help Motivate Your Kids With This Powerful Tool!
- Help Motivate Your Kids With A Vision Board
- How to Set Clear Goals and Plan Naturally
- IEP Goals and Your Child’s Future
- Goals and Plans Are Not Enough!
- How to Find Your Special Child’s Spark?
- Getting Your Child Motivated for This School Year
- Patricia Moody’s PATH to Success
- Setting and Achieving High Expectations
- Do You Set High Expectations for Your Child with Special Needs?
- What to Expect When Establishing Expectations
- Expectations: How Far Have We Come and What to Expect for the New School Year
- Avoiding Unmatched Expectations
This post originally appeared on our July/August 2022 Magazine
