The first step is planning when you will practice steps in your mission plan. You should aim to find ways to practice every day. While spontaneous practice is encouraged, it should also be planned to ensure continued progress. You can use the weekly schedule form at the end of this section to plan your child’s practice!
Plan a day and time for your child to try the first step of their mission plan. Remember that even though it has the lowest anxiety rating and is supposed to be an easy start, they might still be worried about taking this first step. Make sure to remind them of the reward they will be earning (e.g., “remember that when you try it, you will earn [insert reward here]”). Also avoid asking questions that could lead to responses you do not want. For example, instead of asking if or when they want to try the step, try giving them a choice of when it will happen (e.g., “Do you want to try it after dinner or before dinner today?”).
We strongly recommend that this time is free from siblings or other major distractions. We know that this can be a real challenge, but it can be hard for kids to talk about their anxiety and practice their skills around others. As your child gets more practice with their skills, it may be possible to include siblings where appropriate, but it is important to start off with a private environment with your child most of the time.
