Help! My Child Won’t Follow Directions
“Matthew, go bring your shoes, please”… *silence*… “Matthew, did you hear me?”… No matter how many times you repeat the prompt, Matthew meets you with a blank stare. Does this situation sound familiar to you? You’re not alone! Following directions is an essential skill, yet many children have difficulties following simple directions, especially children with developmental challenges.
It is important for a child to follow directions because it is how learning takes place. Following directions directly impacts a child’s academic success, social development, as well as performance of daily routines. If a child displays difficulties with following directions, it may not only affect a child’s functioning at home and school, but also affect his/her self-esteem and social life.
Why does this happen?
A child may struggle to follow directions due to a hearing impairment, language processing disorder, low attention span, sequencing difficulties, and/or memory deficit.
Milestones for Following Directions
| 1;0-2;0 Years | Following 1-step commands | “Get your shoes” |
| 2;0-3;0 Years | Following 2-step related commands | “Get your shoes and bring to me” |
| 3;0-4;0 Years | Following 2-step related and unrelated commands | “Get your shoes and your socks, and put them on” |
Signs to Look For
- Gives a blank look when prompted with directions
- Requires repetition of directions
- Follows directions indirectly
- Displays distraction when given directions and/or attempting to follow directions
- Looks to others to follow directions
- Falls behind age-appropriate milestones (see above)
- Carries out only one step of multi-step directions
How to Help
If your child seems to fall behind the milestones for following directions, it is always recommended to receive a full speech-language evaluation. A speech-language pathologist will be able to determine what specific challenges and needs your child may have, and how to best help him/her. Please reach out to Exceptional Teletherapy at (888) 378-8353 to schedule a thorough evaluation.
Happy Learning!
Andrea Scola, M.S., CF-SLP
Exceptional Speech Therapy Blog Writer
References:
How to give kids effective instructions. (2020, May 07). Retrieved April 07, 2021, from https://childmind.org/article/how-to-give-kids-effective-instructions/
Miller, S. (n.d.). Ages & Stages: Learning to follow directions. Retrieved April 07, 2021, from https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/ages-stages-learning-follow-directions/
References:
How to give kids effective instructions. (2020, May 07). Retrieved April 07, 2021, from https://childmind.org/article/how-to-give-kids-effective-instructions/
Miller, S. (n.d.). Ages & Stages: Learning to follow directions. Retrieved April 07, 2021, from https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/ages-stages-learning-follow-directions/
Contact Us
We proudly offer Speech Therapy & Occupational Teletherapy services to patients located in the state of Florida.
If you have any questions or would like to book an appointment, please call 888.EST.TELE or fill out the form below.
A Sensory Friendly Holiday
A Sensory Friendly Holiday The best time of the year is approaching… the holidays! Compared to last year, the holidays of 2021 will luckily have that more familiar feel, with larger family gatherings and celebrations, due to the positive effects [...]
A Strengths-Based Approach to Children Autism Learning Style
A Strengths-Based Approach to Autism Learning Style (Social Communication) As time goes on, we continue to learn so much about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It is vital to continue researching, as 1 in 54 children are diagnosed with ASD every [...]
Does Teletherapy Work?
Does Teletherapy Work? It’s been over a year now since Exceptional Speech Therapy launched teletherapy services - a decision set in motion by the COVID-19 pandemic. Teletherapy is a session with a health provider that happens via technology, with video [...]