Why Does My Child Have Trouble Following Directions?

“Put your shoes on, grab your backpack, and meet me at the door!”

It may sound like a simple request, but for a young child, following directions like this can involve several different communication skills at once.

When a child frequently has trouble following directions, it doesn’t always mean they aren’t listening. Sometimes, they may be having difficulty understanding, remembering, or processing the language being used.

What Skills Are Involved?

Following directions requires children to listen to what is being said, understand the words, remember the information, and then complete the requested action.

Directions can become more challenging as they get longer or include concepts such as:

• Before and after
• First and last
• Under, beside, and behind
• One, all, or both
• Multiple steps in a specific order

For example, “Get your coat” is much easier to process than “Before you get your coat, put your cup in the sink and bring me your shoes.”

How Can Parents Help?

Try these simple strategies at home:

Start small. Give one direction at a time before gradually adding additional steps.

Get their attention first. Say your child’s name and make sure they are ready to listen before giving the direction.

Keep your language clear. Short, specific instructions can be easier to understand than long explanations.

Use visual support. Pointing, showing, pictures, or demonstrating an action can help children understand what is expected.

Give them time. After giving a direction, allow a few seconds for your child to process what they heard before repeating yourself.

Make It a Game!

Practicing following directions can be fun.

Try playing Simon Says, completing a simple obstacle course, cooking together, or giving silly directions like:

“Touch your nose, clap two times, and jump!”

These activities allow children to practice listening and understanding language without making it feel like work.

This Week’s Takeaway

Following directions involves much more than simply “listening.”

Children are using language comprehension, memory, attention, and sequencing skills to understand what they hear and decide what to do next.

If following directions continues to be challenging for your child, a speech-language pathologist can help identify which communication skills may need additional support.