You may find yourself giving the same instruction several times before your child responds.
Perhaps they can follow a simple direction but become confused when there are two or more steps. Or they seem to understand at home but struggle to follow instructions during learning activities or in a classroom setting.
Following instructions involves more than simply listening. A child needs to understand the language, remember what was said and know what to do next.
Your child may:
Need instructions repeated frequently
Have difficulty following one or more steps
Struggle to understand questions or concepts
Become confused or frustrated during tasks
Need frequent adult support to complete activities
Find classroom instructions particularly difficult
Lose track of what they are expected to do
These difficulties can affect learning, routines and school participation.
Children rely on instructions throughout the day — getting dressed, packing a bag, completing an activity, joining a game or moving from one routine to another.
When following directions is difficult, a child may appear distracted or unwilling to cooperate when the actual challenge may be understanding, remembering or responding to what has been asked.
Speech and language therapy can support receptive language, which is the ability to understand spoken language.
This may include working on understanding questions, concepts, vocabulary and increasingly complex instructions.
ABA therapy (Applied Behaviour Analysis) can support skills such as following instructions, completing routines and responding to structured tasks through consistent practice.
Special education provides structured learning support for children who need instructions broken down, repeated or presented in a way that works better for them.
For children preparing for school, the Immersive Development Program (IDP) provides opportunities to practise classroom-style instructions, routines and participation.
Clear, simple instructions and consistent routines can make everyday tasks easier to understand.
If following directions has become a regular struggle, a developmental assessment can help identify the areas that may need support.
