Helping your child follow simple instructions

Free Parent Guide · Attention & Learning

Helping your child follow simple instructions

When “sit down” or “come here” doesn’t land yet — and how to build it, one word at a time.

A 2-minute walkthrough with Saurabh, Occupational Therapist.

Why this matters

If your child doesn’t yet respond to simple instructions like sit down or come here, it often isn’t that they’re ignoring you. They may not have learned, yet, that words can guide actions.

Following directions is a skill that builds in a clear order: one word, one action, and a lot of help — long before a child does it on their own. The most common stumble is starting with too much at once.

What to try tonight

1
Choose one word. Pick a single instruction your child meets every day — “sit,” “come,” or “give.” Use the same word for a whole week. The repetition is what teaches.
2
Say it once, then help. Get close, say the word a single time, then immediately help them do it with gentle hands. Don’t repeat the word five times — the action follows the word, with your hands as the bridge.
3
Celebrate the helped version. When they do it — even with your help — clap and praise warmly. They need to feel that the word leads to something good. Don’t wait for them to do it alone.
4
Slowly fade the help. After a week, say the word and wait three seconds before stepping in. Some days they’ll manage it; some days they won’t. Either way, help and celebrate. Your hands do less, their ears do more.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Stacking instructions — “put your shoes on and come to the door” is three directions, not one.
  • Repeating the word over and over instead of helping after the first time.
  • Waiting for the child to perform alone before praising. Celebrate the assisted version first.
  • Switching the target word every day. Keep it the same for the full week.

When to seek more support

If, after several weeks of daily practice, your child shows no change in responding to a single familiar instruction, or seems not to hear sounds and speech consistently, it’s worth raising with your paediatrician or occupational therapist. A hearing check is often a sensible first step.

S
Designed and reviewed by Saurabh, Occupational Therapist, NeuroBuddy Clinical Advisory Panel.
When you’re ready

A game built for exactly this skill

The I Can Do action-and-direction game turns single-step instructions into play your child looks forward to — the same method, in a kit.

See the I Can Do game

NeuroBuddy is a developmental support brand, not a substitute for clinical assessment, diagnosis, or therapy. Questions? care@neurobuddy.in