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Teaching your toddler to follow everyday directions without clues

For most children, the first directions they learn to follow are routine directions — directions that happen every day. Children usually learn these directions with the help of context—often visual clues—like seeing you get your keys every day when you say “It’s time to go.”

Once your child has mastered routine simple one step instructions with clues, start giving them the same directions before you provide any visual clues or context.

For example, tell your child to “Get your shoes” before you start to gather your keys, wallet, coat, or anything that might suggest to your child that you're about to leave.

When your child can follow commands without visual clues or context and without you pointing or gesturing to help them, you’ll know they fully understand the meaning of the words in your direction.

This lesson is all about growing your child’s understanding skills and helping them follow everyday directions all on their own!

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Tips for getting your toddler to follow everyday directions on their own

Tip 1 - Give directions without context or visual clues 

The goal in this strategy is to start asking your child to complete directions that you know they can already do — but this time, you remove all of the clues. This will help you make sure your child understands the meaning of the words in your directions.

To do this, ask your child to complete commands without:

  • Pointing to what you want them to do

  • Gesturing with your hands to show them what you want them to do

  • Giving them visual clues, such as grabbing your keys and coat

  • Helping your child complete the instruction

Tip 2 - Offer the least amount of help possible

It’s best to practice at a level where your child can successfully complete the direction with the least amount of help possible — eventually, they will understand the actual words you’re saying.

The first step is to give your child the direction verbally without any visual clues or context. For example, “Get your shoes.” Next, wait. Give your child some quiet time to process and try to complete the direction — I recommend at least 5 seconds. Then, if they didn’t understand the direction, you can help your child by pointing to show them what to do, repeating your direction, or doing it together.

Once you’ve had a chance to show them what to do when you give an instruction, try that same direction again! And offer less and less help in your practice until your child is doing it all on their own!


Tip 3 - Repetition promotes learning 

After your child follows a direction without your help once, keep practicing that same direction! In order to prevent your child from forgetting what they’ve learned, you want to continue practicing a newly learned direction several days in a row.

Start practicing a new direction after your child can follow the original direction many days in a row without any help from you. 

Download our activity guide for teaching your toddler to follow everyday directions ↓

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At home speech therapy activity for practicing with everyday directions: Outdoor time

Materials:  

None beyond regular outside playtime for your child/family 

Set-up:  

Playing outside can be a fun way to work on some directions that your child hears regularly. While getting ready to go outside, and being outside today/this week with your child, practice giving directions. 

What to do:  

While getting ready to go outside, and being outside today/this week with your child, practice giving directions. Remember to give the direction verbally at first, without gestures or pointing, and give your child time to think about and complete the direction, before offering to help. 

Giving your child time to comply with these directions is likely to slow down the process of getting out the door, so pro tip, use this activity during free-time outside, not when you’re running out the door for soccer practice or walking to school! If you’re feeling rushed/pressure, your child is likely to feel that as well, and the activity is not likely to be as successful. 

What to say:

Common directions in your family’s life will depend on what you do and how you spend time outside. There are often a lot of directions involved in getting ready to go outside, being outside, and then coming back in. Below are some suggestions that may help, but feel free to use any directions that are common in your family! 

Preparing to go out/come in suggestions: 

  • Put on your shoes

  • Take off your shoes

  • Wipe your feet 

  • Open the door 

  • Close the screen 

  • Give me your jacket

  • Give daddy your sunscreen

  • Wash your hands 

  • Hold my hand

  • Brush off your feet 

Playtime suggestions: 

  • Get the ball 

  • Give me the bubbles

  • Pour the water

  • Climb down 

  • Push (a walker, swing or toy car)

  • Put it inside (chalk, toys, balls etc)

  • Water the flowers 

  • Throw the stick 

  • Dump out the bucket 


Download PDF with this activity + 2 more!

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You May Also Like These At Home Speech Therapy Tips And Activities:

Created In Collaboration By:

Stephanie Keffer, MS CCC-SLP

Stephanie Burgener-Vader, MA CCC-SLP

Melissa Sartori, MS CCC-SLP

Yvette Faire-Bostick, MS CCC-SLP


© 2020-2022. Stephanie Keffer, MS CCC-SLP. All Rights Reserved.

 

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