Planning Skills
Planning is a core part of executive functioning — the set of skills that help us organise, prioritise, and carry out tasks. For many children, especially those who are neurodivergent, planning does not come naturally and needs to be taught explicitly, step by step.
Difficulties with planning can show up as challenges in starting schoolwork, finishing homework, remembering routines, or managing time. Without support, these difficulties can lead to frustration, reduced confidence, and conflict at home and school. With the right tools, however, children can build independence and feel successful in their learning and daily lives.
Our approach
In collaboration with the Mount of Olives Foundation, Curly Words is developing new, evidence-based practices that strengthen planning skills in ways that are practical for families and useful for allied health professionals. We combine research on cognitive flexibility, expectation management, and executive function coaching to create strategies that work in everyday contexts — not just in clinical settings.
What we teach
- Breaking tasks into steps: helping children see the “first step” instead of feeling overwhelmed by the whole task.
- Visual planning tools: using schedules, calendars, and task maps that make expectations clear and predictable.
- Goal setting and tracking: teaching children to set achievable goals and notice their own progress.
- Organisation practice: applying planning skills to real-life contexts — packing a school bag, preparing for an outing, or managing homework.
- Flexible problem-solving: rehearsing “plan B” thinking when the original plan doesn’t work out.
Sessions are short, structured, and interest-led. We focus on building confidence and independence by celebrating small wins, and by giving children the tools to see themselves as capable problem-solvers.
For allied health and educators, our programs include shared resources and collaborative planning frameworks that can be integrated into therapy and classrooms, ensuring consistency across environments.