Your child chats about their favorite shows, says their words clearly, and always seems to have something to tell you. Yet when you ask them to put on their shoes and grab their backpack, they bring you a toy instead, unsure of what to do next.
When following directions is a regular struggle, the reason may be how your child understands language. Knowing the difference between speaking clearly and making sense of what’s said can help you see why this happens and how to help.
Speech vs. Language: What’s the Difference?
People often use the terms speech and language interchangeably, but they’re two separate sets of skills.
Speech is how your child produces sounds and words. Clear pronunciation and a smooth flow of speech are both speech skills.
Language is how your child understands and uses words to share ideas. It has two parts:
Expressive language: How your child puts words and sentences together to communicate
Receptive language: How your child understands what others say to them
The Role of Receptive Language in Following Directions
Following directions starts with strong receptive language skills. Before your child can act on a direction, they need to understand the words you use and how those words fit together. Only then can they hold the instruction in mind and complete each step in the right order.
Certain words are especially tricky for children with receptive language challenges. Concepts like before, after, under, behind, first, and last tell your child when, where, or in what order to do something. If your child doesn’t fully understand these words, a direction such as “Before you go outside, put your cup in the sink” can easily get mixed up.
Other factors, such as hearing, attention, or simply being tired, can also affect how your child follows directions. A pediatric speech-language pathologist can help determine whether language is part of the picture.
Signs Your Child May Need Extra Support With Receptive Language
Receptive language challenges often show up during everyday routines. Watch for patterns such as:
Having difficulty following directions that have two or more steps
Losing track of steps partway through a direction
Needing directions repeated often
Struggling to answer who, what, where, and why questions
Giving answers that don’t quite match the question
Relying on familiar routines or watching others to figure out what to do
Becoming frustrated, quiet, or distracted during longer conversations or stories
Ways to Make Directions Easier to Understand for Your Child
When receptive language is a challenge, small changes in how you give directions can make each step easier for your child to understand and follow. Try:
Reducing distractions: Turn down the television or pause an activity before giving an instruction.
Giving one step at a time: Say, “Get your jacket,” and wait until your child finishes before adding the next step.
Using specific words: Say, “Put the book on the table,” rather than “Put that over there.”
Showing what you mean: Point to the table or demonstrate the action while saying the direction.
Allowing time to respond: Give your child a few moments to understand and act before repeating yourself.
Staying patient and encouraging: Praise your child’s effort, and calmly repeat or rephrase a direction if they need help.
How Speech Therapy Helps Children Follow Directions
A speech-language pathologist will evaluate how your child understands words, sentences, questions, and directions. Based on the results, they’ll create a plan that targets the specific receptive language skills your child needs to build.
Depending on your child’s needs, therapy may focus on:
Understanding concept words like before, after, under, and behind
Following directions that build from one step to two or three
Answering who, what, where, and why questions
Using strategies to remember directions, such as repeating them aloud or picturing each step
Asking for help when a direction isn’t clear
Sessions are play-based and engaging. Your child might follow directions to build a block tower or complete a scavenger hunt, with pictures and gestures to support understanding at first. As your child’s skills grow, their therapist gradually reduces that support and shares ways to practice during everyday routines at home.
Reach Out to Metro Therapy for Support
If your child speaks clearly but often has trouble following directions, Metro Therapy is here to help. Families in the Fridley, MN, area can call (763) 450-9400 or fill out our online form to schedule an evaluation with one of our speech-language pathologists.
