If-then planning is often used to facilitate goal attainment through linking specific situational cues to specific behavioral responses. These strengthened cue-response links promote automatic habitual behavior, making if-then planning an effective planning strategy. Adult studies have shown that some individuals spontaneously engage in if-then planning, yet little is known about its developmental emergence. This study examines whether children aged 8-12 spontaneously prefer if-then planning as well, whether older children prefer more specific plans, and whether brief instruction increases planning specificity. The study aims to advance understanding of developmental trajectories in strategic if-then planning and evaluate whether structured planning skills are modifiable through minimal intervention during middle childhood.