What is the BEST response when a student is struggling to button their jacket?

• A. Do it for them.
• B. Ignore the issue.
• C. Provide support while encouraging independence.
• D. Tell them to stop trying.

Answer: (C)

When a student is struggling with buttoning, the goal is to support the task while building independence. Provide just enough help to let them succeed, then fade that support as they gain more skill. Break the task into steps, model the sequence, and use prompts that gradually reduce—from physical guidance to verbal cues to no prompts at all—so the student can perform more of the task on their own. Offer practice opportunities with positive reinforcement to reinforce progress and confidence. Doing the task for them or ignoring the difficulty undermines skill development and motivation, while encouraging effort and independence helps the student grow self-help abilities.