Following Directions Activities

Many children, these days, face a difficulty in following directions. It may be as seemingly trivial as writing the name on the top of a paper, to something seemingly serious as going to the bathroom before leaving for going somewhere out. Most parents dismiss it as the kid trying to "be difficult", some parents read too much into it and start considering the chances of the child being dyslexic. Which is it? None. The child is simply having a difficulty in abiding by directions. It is not a very serious problem. However, dismissing it may push your child into other psychological issues like low self-esteem and low confidence. All you need to do is try out a few activities and following direction tests for them, to sharpen those senses and aid in your child's development.

Activities that Aid Children in Complying with Directions

These activities for kids are more like games to get a child to "see" the directions and then "follow" them. They are a part of things to know when raising kids.

Activities for Kindergarten
For kindergarten children, difficulties in complying with directions is very normal. While most children do it to push their parents and try the discipline, many children face genuine difficulties in following direction. The directions activities for them need to be simple and slow. Do not push them into doing too much too soon, it may make them give it up completely and inadvertently affect their confidence.

• Ask them to write the alphabets
• Ask them to write the alphabets, but write the vowels in red.
• Next you can ask them to write the consonants in blue, and the vowels in red.
• Set up a treasure hunt game. This will make them hunt for the prize, by following directions, only.
• Make them write down every direction and refer to it. This itself will be a direction for them to follow.

Such activities make them take an effort to perform tasks. More so, they are normal activities, which will not make them go through a feeling of being wrong in any way. One must always remember that children at this age are very delicate. One wring impression on their mind could affect them for life.

Activities for Middle School
Middle school is the time of life when you learn how to break the rules. However, if the child will have difficulties abiding by directions, they may not even be able to do that. At this age it is a little bit difficult for the children to make an attempt to follow directions, this is because they want to accomplish thing on their own, feel like "big kids".

• Make them clean their room, and put the things in their respective places.
• Make them help you out in cooking dinner, or in making breakfast. Even if the help is for the tiniest things, they will start learning how to follow directions.
• Do not take them everywhere. Once in a while, let them go to close by places on their own. Give them the route, and ask them to follow it. Make sure you tell them to call you when they reach their destination. If they don't call you in their estimated time of arrival, call them to make sure all is well.
• Let them start doing their homework on their own. However, in case of dire help needed, be open to them approaching you.
• Make sure they participate in school activities. They will have to start following the rules and directions in order to perform well there.

Parents and teachers need to understand that rebellious nature is not always what it may seem. So, if the child seems to be rebelling to things too often, then try to find out why. A difficulty in following orders may seem like rebellious nature at times. So, keep a keen eye on such behavior.

Tips for Children to Follow Directions

While it may seem very simple to perform these following directions tests and activities, there are a few things to keep in mind when dealing with children in this case.

• Every time they make a mistake in following the direction, tell them to do the activity again. However, say it very sweetly, and monitor them while they do it.
• Do not interrupt the child while they do the activity. This may not allow them to try to do it on their own again. Just make sure that you are approachable in case they wish to ask for help.
• Realize that it is not very easy for them, so do not lose your temper if they fail a few times.
• Do not criticize them. People think that it motivates the child to prove them wrong, that is a blatant mistake. Criticism at this stage will only push them into believing in what you say, and giving up on themselves.
• Whenever they accomplish a particular difficult activity, give them any positive motivation that may make them happy. Like if they help you out flawlessly in cooking the dinner, give them extra desert, or something like that.
• Just because the child has a problem, it is not a reason to sympathize, patronize and pamper. They need to be treated just like other children. Too much pampering and help will make them more and more dependent on you to do anything on their own.

Activities that help follow directions for adults in also quite a normal phenomenon. This occurs when this difficulty has not been not dealt within childhood. Such people are often known as the mavericks or rebels, while all they need is someone to give them the right directions. For such people, they need to avoid their impulses to rebel and simply follow the directions. It will take time, but in time, they will accomplish it. Complying with directions is important. However, one needs to also know how to decide if something is required to be done or not. Well, I'll leave that for another article. This is where I sign off!! All the best!