Teach Your Child To Follow Directions Easily

By Anisha Nair - Updated: December 13, 2018

In this Article

Newborn to 2 Years Old
Three to Four Year Old
Five to Six Year Old
Seven to Nine Years Old
Ten to Twelve Years Old

So your little humans refusing to listen to you again? Use these techniques to get your child to follow directions easily – without having to keep her on a leash.

Kids aren’t born knowing that they have to do as they are told. It is up to parents to teach them to do so. Here’s what you should do, stage by stage:

Newborn to 2 Years Old

Your little one learns a lot about the world and her role in it by the way you interact with her. Set the foundation for cooperative behaviour by responding to your newborn’s cries. And when her basic needs are taken care of, encourage her to respond to your actions. For example, if you look into her eyes and make funny faces, try to get her to laugh. As she transitions into a toddler, you will notice that your child will oscillate between being perfectly obedient to a child whose favourite word is no. Get your child to listen by only giving her simple instructions, and praising her whenever she follows them. Your approval will encourage her to behave well.

Three to Four Year Old

Again, your child will behave wonderfully when given simple instructions and loads of appreciation. As her vocabulary grows, increase the complexity of directions accordingly. On the flip side, your child’s attention span will decrease, so make sure she is really listening when you are talking to her.

Five to Six Year Old

Now is when your child’s attention span will really improve, and so will her vocabulary. She will now be able to understand longer instructions – all you have to do is ensure you are giving them in the proper order. As her cognitive development has not yet finished, jumbling up a series of instructions will only confuse her, and she might end up doing none of them. Again, appreciation will go a long way in helping her to cooperate.

Seven to Nine Years Old

Your child is growing up into a big person now, and her obedience will depend heavily on how well-behaved her friends are, particularly with their parents. It is important that you know the kind of company your child keeps. And if you see a child misbehaving with an adult in a public space, say a shopping mall, explain to her why that child’s behaviour is wrong. Simply declaring that the behaviour is wrong will not do much good.

Ten to Twelve Years Old

As your kiddo enters her preteen years, friends will continue to have a huge influence on how obedient she is. Plus, her mood swings will also determine whether or not she wants to do what you are saying. Again, do not declare what your child should or shouldn’t do. If you followed the above in her previous years, you are more likely to have a preteen who listens to you. Of course, there will be typical bursts of rebellion. How you deal with them will either make your child rebel more, or just rebel from time to time. As a thumb rule, try to reason with them, and do not mete out extreme punishments.

Although these techniques will definitely help mould your child into an obedient kid, do not have unrealistic expectations. Kids will be kids. There will be instances when they will simply refuse to listen to you, no matter what. At times like these, all you can do is reassure yourself that one day they will have kids of their own!

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