5 Ways to Help Kids Learn to Follow Directions

Parents need to teach their children many lessons as they grow up, including how to follow directions. Some kids may need help learning how to follow instructions to the absolute letter, but there are ways that you can help them get better at this. Here are five ways to help kids learn to follow directions.

Ask for Their Undivided Attention

You can help your kids learn how to follow directions by asking them for their undivided attention. Ask them to look at you and tell them that it is important that they listen to what you are saying.

Otherwise, you will likely have no luck if you give directions when they seem distracted. Try to keep yourself in their line of sight or kneel to their level so that they will focus on you.

Make the Directions Simple

Another way to help kids learn how to follow directions is to make the way you give them instructions as simple as possible. Try to keep your wording clear and avoid saddling it with too much information. These extra words may confuse your child and end up causing them to misunderstand what you want them to do.

Limit It to One Direction at a Time

Although adults may find it easy to take directions that involve multiple steps, such instructions can be harder for young children to follow. They may end up feeling confused about what they are supposed to do, and ultimately skip a step. You can help them by giving only one instruction at a time.

As your kids get older and gain more practice in following directions, you can start to group more requests together. For example, you may give them a direction that involves multiples steps by saying, “Go outside, get the mail, and remember to close the mailbox.” Older children will be better at following instructions that involve doing one thing after another.

Let Them Process the Directions

You can also help your children learn how to take directions by giving them time to process the information. After you have explained an instruction to them, give them a few seconds to work it out in their brain.

This will help them get better at processing directions in the future. If your child still has questions, make sure that you answer them calmly and patiently so that they can better understand what you want them to do.

Sign Them Up for an Activity

Finally, you can help your kids learn to follow directions by signing them up for an afterschool activity when they reach the appropriate age. For example, one of the ways gymnastics helps improve your kids’ social skills is by putting them in structured classes where they listen and learn new skills during each session. That provides them with an ideal environment where they can practice following directions.

When you teach your kids how to follow directions, you will help them learn skills that will benefit them later in life during school and in their careers. Try to be a positive role model for your kids so that they can learn from you and eventually use the same methods to teach their own children how to follow directions.