How do I help my child start a task they keep putting off?

The short answer

Treat starting as a sequence rather than a decision your child should make on command. First find the barrier: the task may be unclear, too large, hard to switch into, missing a material, emotionally loaded or beyond the child's current skill or capacity. Define the start as one visible action, such as opening the worksheet beside a pencil, rather than the whole outcome. Put the instruction and materials together, agree one cue, and offer real choice over order, place or support where the outcome is fixed. Stay nearby if that helps, without taking over. Review whether the child begins sooner, needs fewer prompts and can return after interruption. If the task remains stuck, investigate the barrier again instead of making the prompt louder.

• Starting a task can require disengaging, finding materials, choosing a first action and tolerating uncertainty before any work is visible.
• Identify the barrier before choosing a support; delay does not prove laziness or deliberate refusal.
• Make the first action physically clear and small enough to begin without disguising the full task.
• Use one agreed cue and place information beside the materials instead of repeating the whole demand.
• Nearby adult presence is an option to test, not a treatment that is proven to help every child.
• Review initiation time, prompts, conflict and return to task rather than judging success by apparent enthusiasm.