F is for Following Directions: Building Skills

Throughout our lifespan, building up our skills in the area of following directions is key.  It isn't necessarily that we want a life of being told what to do and we blindly follow along so that we can practice this, but directions are important and ignoring them tends to be detrimental. Therefore, developing these skills is only wise and beneficial.

For a little one, this skill helps us to determine their ability to comprehend language. By the age of one a child can typically follow a simple direction but they may still need the support of gestures to aid their comprehension.  For example, they may wave goodbye when told to or they may need the visual of someone else waving or a lifting of their hand to cue them. However, only six-twelve months later most children can follow two directions in a row and by the age of three that increases to three directions in a row.  For example, a two year old should be able to "Put on your boots and go to the door."  and a three year old would have built up to "Get your swimsuit. Get your towel. Put them both in your backpack." 

Giving step by step instructions are clear guidelines helping a child know what to do, how to do it and when to do it.  It is a learning process for them. Keep it simple and only build up the number of instructions as their maturity and understanding grows.  We want them to practice doing something correctly so giving directions are a beneficial practice that will guide and teach them.  Personally, if we do not know how to build a transformer with lego or drive a car or how to put in a new faucet, having  instructions will help us to do it properly without negative consequences. We want to succeed and do things well and if following directions helps us to accomplish this, it is a good thing!

Another example for consideration is the experience of a basketball team. Sure they can all go out and have fun playing ball but they need to follow the rules of the game, listen to the coach instruct them on what their role is and follow the directions of therapists who are trying to optimize their health and wellbeing so they can play in top form.  Following directions is meant to help people grow and improve to the best of their ability.  I encourage all of you to continue to grow in this area as individuals and to give careful attention to how you are providing instructions to the child(ren) in your life.  Be clear and lead the way well so they can follow and thrive!