5 WAYS TO ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO FOLLOW DIRECTIONS

Getting your child to do something can often seem like an ongoing struggle, but it doesn’t have to be.

By setting clear expectations, using positive reinforcement, and making the process interactive and engaging, you can help your child develop the skills they need to listen and follow directions with ease.

It’s all about creating an environment where following directions becomes a natural and enjoyable part of your daily routine.

Here are 5 strategies to motivate your child to listen and follow directions.

From toddlerhood to those unruly teenage years – kids are wired to do the opposite of what a parent or guardian tells them.

You probably still remember that mischievous smile your kid got when you told them not to eat dirt, right before shoving a fistful in their mouth.

Kids are natural explorers. They’re curious and they want to interact with their environment. Self-control is missing in toddlerhood, as the brains and nervous systems of kids aren’t fully developed. However, this doesn’t mean they’re incapable of learning and following directions.

Developing the ability to follow directions early on in life has been established as a predictor of success later on.

As a parent, you can do a lot to help your child learn how to follow directions without killing their natural curiosity and spontaneity. The key to making this approach work is consistency and clear boundary establishment.

Why Following Directions Matters

There is a reason why kids start learning how to follow instructions in kindergartens and nurseries. The sooner such skills are acquired, the better. The biggest advantages of having such skills include:

Enhanced safety
Better relationships with others and improved communication
Getting positive outcomes from activities, both academic and extracurricular
Learning to tackle complex problems in an effective way
Developing critical thinking and analytical skills

The Importance of Following Directions at School

Academic performance is very much dependent on one’s ability to follow instructions and complete tasks within the context of provided guidelines.

Individual peculiarities impact a child’s ability to follow directions. Factors like working memory capacity, self-regulatory behaviours, the instructional format used, and societal influences all play a role. The earlier kids start learning how to follow directions, however, the better their academic performance can be expected to be.

Following directions is an important life skill that extends beyond the academic setting. Children who learn how to follow complex instructions correctly can experience important benefits like:

The ability to acquire new knowledge and skills quickly
Improved academic performance and excellent grades
The ability to function effectively across different environments
Successful completion of tasks, whether academic, professional, or personal
Building trust and reliability with teachers, mentors, and other authority figures
Enhancing personal growth
Maximising efficiency and productivity in all aspects of life (academic, athletic, personal, and professional)
Fostering effective communication and collaboration
Avoiding simple mistakes that could easily be prevented through adherence to directions
Cultivating responsibility and accountability

How To Encourage Directions Following

Learning starts very early on in life.

Very young children learn by copying the behaviour of their adult caregivers. That’s why teaching by example is the first thing you need to do. Your behaviour will determine how your child will perceive interactions with others, rules, boundaries, and directions later on in life.

So, modelling positive behaviour yourself is something you need to start doing as soon as that little bundle of joy enters your home.

As your child grows, you can start incorporating various activities, exercises, and lessons aimed at improving the kid’s ability to follow directions. Here are some of the opportunities that can deliver the best results.

1. BE CONSISTENT

Being clear and consistent is the first thing you need to do if you want to get children to follow instructions.

For example, tell kids what to do, don’t ask them. “Would you set the table please” is a sentence that leaves the possibility for a negative response. “We’re having dinner in 10 minutes, set the table please” lets your child know this is a task they need to complete immediately.

Don’t raise your voice, don’t request multiple times, and don’t threaten children with consequences you have no intention of enforcing.

Ask a child to do something once and if they refuse, follow up with a natural consequence. Not putting a cap on a bottle and spilling water, for example, comes with the natural consequence of having to clean up the wet mess from the floor.

2. MAKE YOUR INSTRUCTIONS PRECISE, CONCISE, AND EASY TO FOLLOW

Children, especially younger ones, will only be capable of following precise, concise, and very specific instructions.

“Go and clean your room” is an example of a vague direction. Sometimes, kids will fail to do what they’re told because they simply don’t understand the instructions.

Instead, you may want to break the task down into smaller milestones. “Please put dirty clothes in the laundry bin and organize your toys in the chest” gives kids much more precise information that they’ll follow effortlessly.

Make your instructions very concise. Extra words and convoluted explanations will keep you from getting the results that you want.

3. USE ACTIVE LISTENING TECHNIQUES

Active listening exercises can have a profoundly positive effect on a child’s ability to follow directions.

When providing directions, you can do the following things to encourage active listening:

Keep your instructions simple
Speak calmly and quietly
Maintain eye contact
Give kids a chance to ask questions and don’t interrupt
Provide follow-up instructions (if necessary)
Ask some questions to make sure your child understands what you want from them

4. USE VISUAL CUES

Visual cues can be much more powerful than words, especially for kids who haven’t developed a massive vocabulary yet.

Something as simple as pointing to the thing that needs to be picked up can help the child understand better what you’re asking them to do.

You can create a chores board that contains picture cutouts showing activities (washing teeth, making up one’s bed, taking the dog out for a walk, doing homework, etc.).

Look at the pictures together, point at each one, and give instructions. Eventually, you’ll be capable of moving on to verbal directions alone.

5. ESTABLISH ROUTINES

Routines help children learn. If they have a number of tasks that have to be completed each day, children will be more likely to follow through with their responsibilities.

For example, let your child know they are responsible for helping you put dinner on the table each evening. In time, kids will start reaching in the knife and spoon drawer on their own, no prompts required.

Don’t Forget to Make It Fun!

Teaching your child anything should be an enriching and exciting experience for everyone involved. The ability to learn a lesson while playing a game will often determine the success of the activity.

For example, active listening can be encouraged through a game like Simon Says. Think of other games and fun activities like arts and crafts that you can employ within the instructional model.

Start with simple steps and as your child’s ability to follow directions improves, you can begin tackling more complex projects that involve multiple steps and result in spectacular outcomes kids will be incredibly proud of.

Building a large castle from construction blocks by following the instructions on the box is one example of such an activity that will teach your child valuable lessons while producing a beautiful result that can be proudly displayed in your son or daughter’s bedroom.

Emily Correa, the Marketing Director at Jackrabbit Technologies, combines her passion for child development with her unique business insights.

With a degree in Early Childhood Education and over 15 years in the field, she’s at the forefront of marketing innovative software that supports child-focused services. Emily’s dedication to family and community is evident in everything she does, making her a reliable advisor for parents exploring childcare options.