dear doctor my son is almost 2 years we observed able to talk even a few words, he always communicates with sins. He is engaged with few toys such as vehicle toyes he never listens to our words but he can understand but he never tries to follow . can u please suggest about this?

Question

Accepted Answer

the child is having problems with social and language milestones. it is important to meet your pediatricianx who will tell you whether assessment for social and language milestones are needed or not.
please go for assessmentx with development pediatrician

Accepted Answer

It's common for 2-year-old children to have difficulty following instructions consistently. At this age, children are still developing their language skills, cognitive abilities, and understanding of social cues. Here are some strategies to help encourage your 2-year-old to follow instructions:

1. **Use simple language:** Keep instructions short, simple, and clear. Use concrete language and gestures to help your child understand what you're asking them to do.

2. **Be specific:** Provide specific instructions rather than vague commands. For example, instead of saying "clean up your toys," you can say "put the blocks in the toy box."

3. **Get down to their level:** When giving instructions, kneel or squat down to your child's eye level to make it easier for them to focus and pay attention to what you're saying.

4. **Offer choices:** Give your child limited choices within boundaries to help them feel a sense of control and autonomy. For example, you can say, "Do you want to wear the red shirt or the blue shirt?"

5. **Use positive reinforcement:** Praise and encourage your child when they follow instructions, even if it's just a small step in the right direction. Positive reinforcement helps motivate children to repeat desired behaviors.

6. **Be consistent:** Consistency is key when it comes to teaching children to follow instructions. Be consistent with your expectations and consequences for both following and not following instructions.

7. **Provide visual cues:** Use visual cues or pictures to support verbal instructions, especially for tasks that are more complex or unfamiliar to your child.

8. **Break tasks into smaller steps:** If a task seems overwhelming or too complex for your child, break it down into smaller, more manageable steps. Celebrate each step of progress to keep your child motivated.

9. **Set a good example:** Model the behavior you want to see in your child by following instructions yourself and demonstrating patience and understanding.

10. **Be patient:** Remember that learning to follow instructions is a skill that takes time and practice to develop. Be patient with your child and offer support and encouragement as they learn and grow.

If your child continues to have difficulty following instructions despite your efforts, consider consulting with a pediatrician or early childhood development specialist for further evaluation and guidance. They can assess your child's development and provide additional strategies and resources to support their learning and behavior.