Everyday activities, independence, backward chaining

Backward chaining

What is it? Backward chaining can be used to support people to learn new skills or develop confidence to complete a task.

You start by breaking the task down into small steps. You teach the last step first, working backwards from the goal. Successfully completing each step gives a sense of success. To do this:

Break the task down into small steps.
Teach the last step first (for example: if putting on trousers, the last step might be to zip up the zipper)
Once the person is confident and regularly completing the last step, you can introduce the second from last step too (for example: if putting on trousers, the second from last step might be to do up the button. And, the last step, zip up the zipper)
Continue in the same way adding another step as the person becomes confident and able.

Don't rush! Depending on the task, each step could take a long time, days, weeks, or even months!

Some examples below:

Backward chaining - Going to the shop

To complete the task of going to the local shop, it might look like:

Walk to the shop
Choose items
Pay for items
Walk home from shop

Below is an example of how you might backward chain this task. Remember, do not rush. Make sure they are confident completing each stage independently before moving on to a new step.

1. Start by completing the whole task with the person

1. Walk to shop with them
2. Choose items with them
3. Pay with them
4. Walk home with them.

2. Introduce some independence.

1. Walk to shop with them
2. Choose items with them
3. Pay with them
4. Walk almost all the way home together. Stay back the last few steps/yards/street and let them continue walking the rest of the way home on their own.

3. When they are confident with step 2. Introduce more independence.

1. Walk to shop with them
2. Choose items with them
3. Pay with them
4. Walk half the way home with them. Let them continue walking the rest of the way home on their own (follow at a distance if needed).

4. When they are confident with step 3. Introduce more independence.

1. Walk to shop with them
2. Choose items with them
3. Pay with them
4. They walk home independently (follow at a distance if needed).

5. When they are confident with step 4. Introduce more independence. Remember: each stage may take days, weeks or longer!

1. Walk to shop with them
2. Choose items with them
3. Observe closely whilst the person pays independently
4. They walk home independently (follow at a distance if needed).

6. When they are confident with step 5. Introduce more independence.

1. Walk to shop with them
2. Choose items with them
3. Wait outside of the shop whilst the person pays independently
4. They walk home independently (follow at a distance if needed).

7. When they are confident with step 6. Introduce more independence.

1. Walk to shop with them
2. Wait nearby while the person chooses items
3. Wait outside of the shop whilst the person pays independently
4. They walk home independently (follow at a distance if needed).

8. When they are confident with step 7. Introduce more independence.

1. Walk to shop with them
2. Wait outside of the shop whilst the person chooses and pays independently
3. They walk home independently (follow at a distance if needed).

9. When they are confident with step 8. Introduce more independence.

1. Walk with them part way to the shop (gradually decrease the distance you walk with them).
2. Wait outside of the shop whilst the person chooses and pays independently
3. They walk home independently

10. Person goes independently to and from the shop

Backward chaining - washing hair

To complete the task of washing the steps would look like:

Wet hair.
Put on the shampoo
Lather shampoo.
Rinse hair.

To backward chain you would complete the task by:

1. Start by completing the whole task with the person.

2. Introduce some independence.

1. Wet hair for the person
2. Put on the shampoo for them.
3. Lather shampoo for them.
4. Rinse the top part of their hair. They rinse the back of her hair.