When to Use These Prompts
Use these prompts when your child refuses specific situations, places, or activities because of fear; has an expanding list of things they won’t do; uses physical symptoms like stomachaches or headaches to avoid feared situations; gets immediate relief from avoidance (which reinforces it); or when you’ve been accommodating the avoidance and want to shift the pattern.
AI Prompts for Avoidance — Copy and Paste
Prompt 1:
“My [age]-year-old avoids [specific situation] because of anxiety. Give me a script for introducing the idea of ‘facing fears a little at a time’ — the concept of a fear ladder — in a way that feels empowering rather than threatening.”
Prompt 2:
“Help me design a 5-step fear ladder for my child’s avoidance of [situation]. Give me steps that go from very easy to full exposure, and the conversation script for introducing each step.”
Prompt 3:
“My child avoided [situation] today and I want to address it — not by shaming them, but by gently naming that avoidance isn’t helping. Give me a non-confrontational conversation script.”
Prompt 4:
“My child tried something they were avoiding and it went okay. Give me 3 things I can say that reinforce the bravery without putting too much emphasis on the outcome.”
Prompt 5:
“I’ve been accommodating my child’s avoidance for a long time and I realize it’s making the anxiety worse. Give me a script for explaining to my [age]-year-old that we’re going to try a new approach — and why.”
Prompt 6:
“My child avoids situations because they’re terrified of feeling anxious. Give me a script that teaches them the concept that anxiety is uncomfortable but survivable — and practicing discomfort is what makes it get smaller.”
Example AI Output
We entered Prompt 1 into Claude: “My 9-year-old avoids birthday parties because of social anxiety. Give me a script for introducing the fear ladder concept.”
Claude’s response:
“Parent: ‘Can I teach you something that actually works for anxiety? Scientists discovered that when we avoid things that scare us, the fear gets bigger. But when we go toward scary things — just a little at a time — the fear actually shrinks.’
Parent: ‘It’s called facing fears in steps — like climbing a ladder. The bottom step is easy, the top step is the hard thing. Want to build a ladder for parties together?’
[Build it together: bottom might be ‘look at a party invitation,’ middle might be ‘go for 20 minutes and leave,’ top might be ‘stay for the whole party.’]
Parent: ‘We start at the bottom. We don’t go to the top until the bottom feels easy. You’re always in control of the pace.'”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cruel to make my child face things that scare them?
Gradual, supported exposure is the gold-standard treatment for childhood anxiety — not cruel, but genuinely helpful. The key words are gradual and supported. You’re not throwing a child into the deep end; you’re holding their hand on the first step of the pool ladder. The alternative — avoiding forever — is what genuinely limits children.
What’s the difference between supporting and accommodating?
Accommodation means removing the feared situation so the child never has to face anxiety. Support means going with them toward it. Accommodation feels kind short-term but maintains anxiety. Support feels harder short-term but builds real capacity.
What if my child refuses to try even the easiest step?
Go even smaller. The first step should produce only mild anxiety — a 2 or 3 out of 10. If every step feels impossible, the ladder needs to start lower. A therapist specializing in CBT can help design the exposure hierarchy appropriately.
How do I know when avoidance has become a clinical problem?
When it significantly limits the child’s activities, is present across multiple domains (school, social, family), is increasing rather than stable, or has been present for more than 6 months — consult a child therapist.
About These Prompts
These prompts draw on exposure-based CBT for childhood anxiety, including principles from Dr. Tamar Chansky and the SPACE treatment model. Tested with Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini. Not clinical advice.