helping children following direction
Helping Children Follow Directions at Home September 2008 Families can support and reinforce the knowledge, skills, and behaviors young children will need to succeed in preschool and kindergarten. Developing good social skills is essential to a positive educational experience for young children. Being able to follow the teacher’s directions at school will help a child be successful. A parent may help their child develop this skill at home. Many of the same techniques used at school to foster this skill can also be used at home. Best Practice
Some Thoughts on Giving Directions
1. Get the child’s attention
Before giving a direction to your child, make sure he/she is looking at you. Calling his name, touching him lightly on the shoulder, or going to the child are some ways to do this. If your child is busy doing something and you want to give a direction, make sure he /she pauses and looks at you before giving the direction (turn the television off, pause the movie or tape, etc.).. 2. Give clear, positive directions with high expectations
Giving clear, specific directions are important and will help assure the child will follow them. Do not tell them what not to do, but rather what to do. Tell them what you want in clear terms. For example, do not say “Stop running.”, but rather “Please walk.” Give children rationales for the directions that they can understand. “If you turn off the TV, you can help me set the table with the new cups.” Do not be vague, but rather be specific. Do not say “be careful”, but rather “Please climb down from the ladder.” Do not say “Behave.”, but rather, “I need you to sit quietly until I finish talking with Aunt
Betty.” Focus on the positive. Let them know you have high expectations for them and give them sincere praise when they respond. When they follow your directions, let them know that you are proud of them and how “grown-up” they are. Acknowledge their
successes.
Some Thoughts on Giving Directions
1. Get the child’s attention
Before giving a direction to your child, make sure he/she is looking at you. Calling his name, touching him lightly on the shoulder, or going to the child are some ways to do this. If your child is busy doing something and you want to give a direction, make sure he /she pauses and looks at you before giving the direction (turn the television off, pause the movie or tape, etc.).. 2. Give clear, positive directions with high expectations
Giving clear, specific directions are important and will help assure the child will follow them. Do not tell them what not to do, but rather what to do. Tell them what you want in clear terms. For example, do not say “Stop running.”, but rather “Please walk.” Give children rationales for the directions that they can understand. “If you turn off the TV, you can help me set the table with the new cups.” Do not be vague, but rather be specific. Do not say “be careful”, but rather “Please climb down from the ladder.” Do not say “Behave.”, but rather, “I need you to sit quietly until I finish talking with Aunt
Betty.” Focus on the positive. Let them know you have high expectations for them and give them sincere praise when they respond. When they follow your directions, let them know that you are proud of them and how “grown-up” they are. Acknowledge their
successes.