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Following instructions is an important skill that helps children understand what is being asked of them and complete a task successfully. This involves listening to verbal directions or looking at visual directions, remembering the steps and then completing the steps in the correct order. Instructions can be simple with one step, such as “put your shoes on”, or complex with multiple steps, such as how to play a game or complete a classroom activity.

Why Is It Important for Children to Follow Instructions?

Children receive so many instructions throughout every part of their day whether at home, in the classroom, in the playground or on the sports field. When children can follow instructions, they are better able to follow routines, participate in classroom activities and follow the rules of a game.

Learning to follow directions helps children navigate their environment and activities safely, build independence and develop social confidence.

Why Some Children Struggle to Follow Instructions

Following instructions is hard and requires so many skills to work together. This can include:

These demands can quickly become overwhelming in busy environments like the classroom or the playground. Children with ADHD (opens in a new tab), autism, anxiety (opens in a new tab), language disorders and learning difficulties (opens in a new tab) may have more difficulty following instructions due to their underlying challenges in one or more of these skill areas.

While it may appear that a child is ignoring instructions, it’s important to recognise that this may be due to their difficulties rather than a lack of effort or motivation. Understanding where following instructions becomes hard for a child can help parents and educators respond with supportive strategies and reduce frustration.

Signs Your Child May be Having Difficulty Following Instructions

Some common signs that a child is having difficulty following instructions include:

  • Difficulty starting or completing a task
  • Requires frequent repetition or reminders
  • Completes task differently to instructions
  • Looks to others to copy steps to complete activities
  • Becomes frustrated or overwhelmed when instructions are hard
  • Avoids games, activities or tasks with lots of steps

Recognising these signs is the first step to understanding how to support your child to build the skills needed to follow instructions.

Tips for Supporting Your Child to Follow Directions

If your child is having difficulty following directions, there are many things you can do to help them understand what is expected.

Gain your child’s attention first

If your child is distracted or focused on an activity, chances are they won’t hear your instructions. There are many ways to get your child’s attention such as saying their name, stating what you need from them (“listen to me now”), stepping into their line of sight or using an agreed signal. Wait until your child shows you that they are paying attention before giving the direction.

Give simple and clear instructions to follow

Use short and direct phrases and avoid using unnecessary words. For example, instead of “Can you brush your teeth now?” try saying “brush your teeth”. The less words your child needs to process, the easier it will be for them to follow the direction. It’s also important to give verbal instructions using your child’s vocabulary level.

Check for understanding

Ask your child to repeat back the directions in their own words. If they have misunderstood, encourage them to ask for the instructions to be repeated.

Allow Time for Your Child to Process

After giving instructions to your child, wait for a moment to allow them to think and respond. It can be tempting to repeat the instructions several times, but this can become overwhelming for your child and make understanding more difficult. If your child doesn’t respond, ask them if they would like you to repeat the instructions.

Use Visual Aids

Verbal instructions can be difficult to process, particularly for children with attention, language or sensory challenges. Using visuals (opens in a new tab) can help children remember and sequence the steps and promote independence. Printout pictures for each step of a routine, make a checklist or provide a demonstration of the task.

Order Your Instructions

Structure your instructions by using concepts like first/then (“First brush your teeth, then put on your shoes”) or using numbers to sequence the steps (“There are three things you need to do.” Then list the steps using first, second, last.). Ordering your instructions like this can support memory.

Activities to Help Children Follow Directions

Learning to follow instructions takes time and practice. Choosing activities that match your child’s abilities helps build confidence and reduces frustration. Here are some helpful activities to help your child practise following instructions.

Activities for preschoolers

  • Simon Says – This activity is a great way to practise listening skills and can be easily modified to give more complex instructions. Start by giving simple one-step instructions like “Simon says, jump” and build up to multi-step instructions like “Simon says, spin around and touch your toes” or “Simon says, clap five times, pat your belly and then stomp your feet.”
  • Movement songs – Classic singalong songs like Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes and The Hokey Pokey provide a fun and engaging way for children to practise following instructions through copying.

Activities for school-aged children

  • Scavenger Hunt – Hide letters around the room. Give your child instructions to find each letter to spell out the secret word that will help them find their treasure.
  • Twister – this classic family game uses colours and body parts to practise listening skills while also working on gross motor skills like balance and coordination.
  • Board and Card Games – Classic games like Uno, Guess Who and Snakes and Ladders provide a structured and engaging way for children to practise skills for following instructions like attention, listening, remembering rules and impulse control.
  • Listen and Colour – Print out an outline picture or pick a page from a colouring book. Instruct your child which colour to use for each part of the image. For example, if your child is colouring a picture of a dinosaur, you might say, “colour the head green”. You can increase the complexity of the instructions by giving two steps together or adding extra descriptors like, “Colour the stripes on the tail red and the stripes on the back orange.” This activity also helps build your child’s language, vocabulary and spatial concepts.

Activities for teenagers

  • Board Games – Classic games like Battleships, Cluedo and Codenames help teens practise following complex rules and adaptable thinking to make an accurate guess at the end of the game.
  • Cooking – Following a recipe helps to practise lots of skills needed for following instructions such as reading comprehension, attention to detail, organisation and sequencing. Start with simple recipes like toasted sandwiches or pancakes. Cooking also helps to build important skills in fine motor, maths, problem-solving and communication.

Frequently Asked Questions

Many children have difficulty following instructions because it requires attention, understanding, memory and self-control all at once. Children are still developing all these skills throughout their schooling years. Difficulty following instructions is often associated with developmental challenges rather than intentional misbehaviour so identifying the underlying cause is key to supporting your child.

Children with ADHD can have difficulty following instructions due to challenges with attention and executive functioning. However, ADHD isn’t the only possible explanation. Children who have difficulty with language development, working memory, sensory processing, anxiety and learning difficulties can also have difficulty with directions. A comprehensive assessment can help to identify the underlying factors that may contribute to your child’s challenges with instructions.

Children learn to follow instructions gradually, and this can look different for every child. Preschool children can typically follow simple one-step instructions, while primary school children are expected to follow instructions with two to three steps.

If your child’s difficulty with following instructions is impacting their ability to participate in classroom activities or playing with friends, it may be helpful to seek professional advice. Psychologists and speech pathologists can assess underlying cognitive and communication challenges and recommend practical supports. Speech pathologists and occupational therapists often work with children to build the skills need for following instructions. Learning Links offers assessments and speech therapy to help identify and support difficulties with following instructions.