Top List List

When do toddlers start listening to directions

Inside: Quick and easy following directions activities for kids that will help them practice self-control, emotional regulation and improve listening skills.

There was a joke traveling around years ago from Carrie On Yall that said, Maybe if I start yelling Get your shoes on! the night before, we could get to school on time the next day.

Honestly, the struggle is real.

Kids need A LOT of practice to learn basic life skills.

Following directions activities can support better listening skills in your child.

Teaching kids to follow directions isnt as simple as doing a listening activity for kids, watching fairy dust shower from above, and seeing your kids transform into magical listeners.

Several years ago I was getting ready to take my son to school. He insistedlike life or death insistedthat he needed to wear his green shoes.

So I helped him find his green shoes, laid them out on the floor, and then realized I made a horrible mistake.

Heshook his head and said, No green shoes, mom. Nooo!

In exactly two minutes, the green shoes went from being my complaining childs most prized possession to the most horrible and disgusting shoes one could don.

Related Posts:

2 year old not listening? Try this remarkable tip.
10 Totally Awesome Tricks for Independent Kids

Teaching kids to follow directions lets simplify.

1. Connection first. Attention follows.

A few brief moments using SAY WHAT YOU SEE®, where you describe what your child is thinking, doing, feeling or saying, makes a big difference. This is the building block of connection, and when kids feel connected to you, they are for more likely to cooperate.

It might sound something like, Youre drawing a picture with big green squares and red lines.

No brainer, right? And yet, I still find myself talking to my kids without taking a brief moment for connection.

Sharing a set of instructions before you briefly connect with your child is like speaking foreign language. It can fall flat.

I know I have my childs full attention when I have two things:

Eye contact
Eyes level [get down to the childs level].

2. Be short and specific.

Kids tend to hear a lot of conversational white noise when adults are speaking to them. Say exactly what needs to be said for your child to follow your directions. Trim everything else out.

Instead of Hurry up. We gotta get out the door for this appointment. Get your coat lets go.

Try Coat please. Or, Youre missing a coat.

3. Use wait time.

This is a great strategy that I learned from a teacher. After giving a set of instructions to your kids, pause for 3-7 seconds to allow their brain to process and apply the information. Research shows kids are more likely to follow directions if you give them wait time or a hearty pause.

As adults, we are used to processing information much quicker, but kidsthey take time.

Think of it this way: Keeping realistic expectations and waiting is the difference between you giving up andthrowing your tea in the air vs. you calmly taking a sip of your tea while you employ wait time.

4. Unless you are offering a choice, dont ask.

If your directions arent up for negotiation, keep that door firmly closed. Offering choices is a fabulous way to help endpower struggles and enjoy a happier home.

Buteverything in life is not always a choice. If you cant offer a choice within a parental boundary you feel good about, give instructions as a statement, rather than a question.

Instead of Can you pick up your toys?

Try I see toys on the floor and its time to leave.

Or if youd like to offer a choice, you can say something like, I see blocks and dolls. Show me which one you want to put away first.

5. Practice using following directions activities.

In order to build great listening skills, kids need a lot of practiceA LOT.

Which makes sense! I think we all can relate to needing a lot of practice before we can get good at anything. I could tell you a few stories about burnt dinner rolls for the past five years, but thats a story for another day

Related:

50+ Best Simple Games for 2 Year Olds and Up
The Ultimate List of Board Games for 2 Year Olds

7 core following directions activities for kids.

There are several good ole fashioned standby games to play with kids to help them 1] Listen and hear what you are instructing and 2] Practice following the directions you shared.

1. Simon Says

One person is Simon or Elmo or Dora or Spiderman or Teacher or Whoever, and this person is the leader. Simon gives a set of instructions and everyone else follows. The person who doesnt follow the instructions is out. And the person who follows the instructions throughout the game, wins Simon Says.

2. Red Light, Green Light.

One person is the leader who calls out Red Light or Green Light. When the leader calls out Red Light, everyone stops. When the leader calls out Green Light, everyone goes. Anyone who doesnt stop or freeze during Red Light is out.

3. Follow the Leader.

Take a walk around your house or outside and whatever you [or the leader] does, everyone else must follow. This is a great game to allow your child to be the leader and have you follow your child. Its a perfect opportunity to model following directions for your child!

4. Map Game

Try this map game and help your kids work their way through the grid following the directions given. Practice counting and using the words left, right, forward, and backward.

5. Two-step direction games.

Do one of these 2-step direction games with your kids. This is perfect for preschoolers and above! Have your kids follow some of the 2-step directions throughout the day [e.g. Shake your head yes and then quack like a duck.] Brilliant!

6. Lego® Game

If you have kids who are old enough to play a board game, try this Lego Game to help your kids practice reading directions and following them.

7. Visual direction activities.

With kids, visual directions are so important! You can make life simpler and fun using visual directions for your kids, such as a printable daily schedule for kids.

Bedtime routine cards
Morning routine cards
Mealtime routine cards

Using routines is a great way to support cooperation and help your kids learn to follow directions.

They are also energy saving, AND a great way to avoid yelling Green shoes! ten times every morning or Eat your dinner! six times every evening.

Grab your FREE Following Directions Checklist Here!