HOW TO USE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES TO HELP YOUR CHILD IMPROVE:

Following Directions

Following directions is essential to success in school, at home, and in job settings. Difficulties in following directions are one of the most commonly reported complaints of parents with school- and teenage children. For some children, problems in following directions are the result of oppositional tendencies; however, the cause of most of these difficulties is not a result of noncompliance. Many children with difficulties in following directions appear confused or forgetful, don’t know where to get started, or may be unaware of any mistakes whatsoever. 

Common indications of difficulties in following directions include:

• Problems remembering sequences and multi-step directions
• Auditory processing or receptive language difficulties
• Short attention span and distractibility

Further information about following directions can be found in LearningWorks for Kids.com sections on Working Memory, Planning, and Attention Deficit Disorders, and other Resources. Digital technologies can be used to support, practice, and enhance skills at following directions at home. Parents are encouraged to utilize children’s other strengths, intelligences, and interests to assist them with their difficulties in following directions. Digital technologies used in conjunction with parent, teacher, and peer mediation/involvement may be helpful with the preceding list of behaviors.