Fun activities for following directions

19 Activities for Middle School Students to Improve Following Directions

Whether 1-step directions or multi-step directions, students need practice and clear expectations. Students follow hundreds of directions every year at school and at home. In order to improve their ability to process oral directions and listening skills, you can incorporate fun activities into your school day.

Try some of these 19 activities and notice the difference you will see over a period of time, as students improve with following directions.

Incorporate your school curriculum into teaching kids to follow directions. Using science experiments in your school setting will improve academics, engage students, and strengthen students' following directions skills and abilities.

Learn More: Moms

Further developing science skills and learning to code are beneficial for so many reasons. In addition to helping students learn computer science skills, they can also work on fine motor skills and improve following directions skills. Coding is ideal and appropriate for all grade levels.

Learn More: Teach Your Kids Code

This worksheet takes on the form of a riddle or secret code to be solved. For students who need a break from screen time, let them try to decipher the code by solving the riddles. The following directions worksheet is a good way to also encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Learn More: Centervention

Simple instructions will be easy to follow and form a unique craft! This activity uses multi-step directions to have students create a paper masterpiece. Students will need to pay attention to directions and details to be successful in this awesome activity.

Learn More: Speech Snacks

5. Boat Craft

This fun and challenging activity allows some creative freedom but requires multi-step directions as well. This activity is great for upper elementary teachers or middle school teachers to use with their students.

Learn More: Pedia Staff

This activity will require key listening skills. Teaching students to make something with their hands is a great way to improve following directions. This is ideal for motor skills as well. Students may have a harder time working with their hands, so making the teacher aware of expectations is key.

Learn More: Moms

Giving the child directions for this printable activity is key. Lists of directions are included for students to read themselves or for the teacher to call out to them. Precise directions will help students know when to do each step in the process.

Learn More: Tam Aqua K12

8. Summer Olympics Following Directions Game 

This adorable summer Olympics game is great for following directions. Perfectly themed activity sheets are designed for listening activities that focus on teaching students 1-step directions, 2-step sequential directions, and even 3-step sequential directions.

Learn More: Speech Time Fun

This leaf craft is a perfect hands-on activity for teaching students the importance of following directions. As they listen and perform each task in each step, students' following directions skills will improve with practice.

Learn More: Inspontaneous Speech

These easily printable maps are easy to use. There are several themes to choose from. Each is accompanied by a list of instructions. Students can read them or listen as teachers read them aloud.

Learn More: Making Learning Fun

11. Star Wars Directions Game 

Fun games, like this Star Wars following directions game, are great for helping students practice how to properly follow directions. This interactive game allows students to work within groups and collaborate and interact with others.

Learn More: Teach This

Glyphs are a fantastic resource for upper elementary and middle school students who need to practice following directions. Students will use white drawing paper to draw a picture, based on listening to directions and using what applies to them individually.

Learn More: Teach With Me

These before and after statements are great for older kids. This is a way to let students interact in groups and follow directions. On slips of paper, you will write in events and use them to complete this activity.

Learn More: Miss Barrett Speech Language

14. Listening Skills Holiday Sheet

These printable worksheets will be helpful for children with language skills needing improvement or for students to practice following directions. They are holiday themed and ideal for key listening skills and multi-step directions.

Learn More: Resources From Rachel

This fun quiz-type sheet is helpful in assessing how well students follow directions. This is a great way to see if they can follow targeted directions and if not, where the breakdown occurs so you will know what to work on.

Learn More: The Worksheets

This directions sheet is a breakdown of 4-step directions. Each section requires students to look ahead to see what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. They are working to follow directions in each step.

Learn More: The Worksheets

17. Relay Races

Relay races get students up and moving. Teachers can customize this activity to get students to practice following directions in a nontraditional way. Students can follow directions and work with their teams to see who can win each challenge.

Learn More: Mr Physed

This following directions activity is good for working on following directions and literal directions. Students can cut and place items in places, dependent on prepositional directions. This is especially good for bilingual students.

Learn More: The Worksheets

Constructing paper airplanes is fun and ideal for practicing following directions. Let students use a template and guide for directions or orally tell them what to do. Either way, they will get good practice and finish with a nice end result.

Learn More: Speech Snacks

7 Core Following Directions Activities for Kids That'll Improve Listening

Inside: Quick and easy following directions activities for kids that will help them practice self-control, emotional regulation and improve listening skills.

There was a joke traveling around years ago from Carrie On Y’all that said, “Maybe if I start yelling ‘Get your shoes on!’ the night before, we could get to school on time the next day.”

Honestly, the struggle is real.

Kids need A LOT of practice to learn basic life skills.

Following directions activities can support better listening skills in your child.

Teaching kids to follow directions isn’t as simple as doing a listening activity for kids, watching fairy dust shower from above, and seeing your kids transform into magical listeners.

Several years ago I was getting ready to take my son to school. He insisted—like life or death insisted—that he needed to wear his green shoes.

So I helped him find his green shoes, laid them out on the floor, and then realized I made a horrible mistake.

He shook his head and said, “No green shoes, mom. Nooo!”

In exactly two minutes, the green shoes went from being my complaining child’s most prized possession to the most horrible and disgusting shoes one could don.

Related Posts:

• 2 year old not listening? Try this remarkable tip.
• 10 Totally Awesome Tricks for Independent Kids 

Teaching kids to follow directions – let’s simplify.

1. Connection first. Attention follows.

A few brief moments using SAY WHAT YOU SEE®, where you describe what your child is thinking, doing, feeling or saying, makes a big difference. This is the building block of connection, and when kids feel connected to you, they are for more likely to cooperate.

It might sound something like, “You’re drawing a picture with big green squares and red lines.”

No brainer, right? And yet, I still find myself talking to my kids without taking a brief moment for connection.

Sharing a set of instructions before you briefly connect with your child is like speaking foreign language. It can fall flat.

I know I have my child’s full attention when I have two things:

• Eye contact
• Eyes level (get down to the child’s level).

2. Be short and specific.

Kids tend to hear a lot of conversational white noise when adults are speaking to them. Say exactly what needs to be said for your child to follow your directions. Trim everything else out.

Instead of… “Hurry up. We gotta get out the door for this appointment. Get your coat lets go.”

Try… “Coat please.” Or, “You’re missing a coat.”

3. Use “wait time.”

This is a great strategy that I learned from a teacher. After giving a set of instructions to your kids, pause for 3-7 seconds to allow their brain to process and apply the information. Research shows kids are more likely to follow directions if you give them “wait time” or a hearty pause.

As adults, we are used to processing information much quicker, but kids…they take time.

Think of it this way: Keeping realistic expectations and waiting is the difference between you giving up and throwing your tea in the air vs. you calmly taking a sip of your tea while you employ “wait time.”

4. Unless you are offering a choice, don’t ask.

If your directions aren’t up for negotiation, keep that door firmly closed. Offering choices is a fabulous way to help end power struggles and enjoy a happier home.

But…everything in life is not always a choice. If you can’t offer a choice within a parental boundary you feel good about, give instructions as a statement, rather than a question.

Instead of… “Can you pick up your toys?”

Try… “I see toys on the floor and it’s time to leave.”

Or if you’d like to offer a choice, you can say something like, “I see blocks and dolls. Show me which one you want to put away first.”

5. Practice using following directions activities.

In order to build great listening skills, kids need a lot of practice…A LOT.

Which makes sense! I think we all can relate to needing a lot of practice before we can get good at anything. I could tell you a few stories about burnt dinner rolls for the past five years, but that’s a story for another day 🙂

Related:

• 50+ Best Simple Games for 2 Year Olds and Up
• The Ultimate List of Board Games for 2 Year Olds

7 core following directions activities for kids.

There are several good ‘ole fashioned standby games to play with kids to help them 1) Listen and hear what you are instructing and 2) Practice following the directions you shared.

1. Simon Says

One person is Simon or Elmo or Dora or Spiderman or Teacher or Whoever, and this person is the “leader.” Simon gives a set of instructions and everyone else follows. The person who doesn’t follow the instructions is “out.” And the person who follows the instructions throughout the game, wins Simon Says.

2. Red Light, Green Light.

One person is the leader who calls out “Red Light” or “Green Light.” When the leader calls out “Red Light,” everyone stops. When the leader calls out “Green Light,” everyone goes. Anyone who doesn’t stop or freeze during “Red Light” is out.

3. Follow the Leader.

Take a walk around your house or outside and whatever you (or the leader) does, everyone else must follow. This is a great game to allow your child to be the leader and have you follow your child. It’s a perfect opportunity to model following directions for your child!

4. Map Game

Try this map game and help your kids work their way through the grid following the directions given. Practice counting and using the words left, right, forward, and backward.

5. Two-step direction games.

Do one of these 2-step direction games with your kids. This is perfect for preschoolers and above! Have your kids follow some of the 2-step directions throughout the day (e.g. Shake your head “yes” and then quack like a duck.) Brilliant!

6. Lego® Game

If you have kids who are old enough to play a board game, try this Lego Game to help your kids practice reading directions and following them.

7. Visual direction activities.

With kids, visual directions are so important! You can make life simpler and fun using visual directions for your kids, such as a printable daily schedule for kids.

• Bedtime routine cards
• Morning routine cards
• Mealtime routine cards

Using routines is a great way to support cooperation and help your kids learn to follow directions.

They are also energy saving, AND a great way to avoid yelling “Green shoes!” ten times every morning or “Eat your dinner!” six times every evening.

Grab your FREE Following Directions Checklist Here!

More popular parenting posts

• 2 Year Old Sleep Schedule to Help Kids Fall Asleep and Wake Happy
• Best Morning Routine Tips and Tricks Your Kids Will Actually Follow
• 3 Things Every Parent of a Strong Willed Toddler Should Know
• 50+ Outdoor Toys for Kids That’ll Bring Hours of Fun
• Best Summer Schedule for Kids That You Can Print and Use Daily

I've created a free email series just for you! If you are struggling with teaching your child to listen, this series will help transform your parenting. Yes, really. I've seen my proven strategies work time and time again for parents. I know it can work for you too.

After taking my free email series, you will:

• Learn simple, yet highly effective listening strategies
• Experience a stronger connection with your child
• Enjoy more peaceful parenting days
• Gain more cooperation from your child

Click here to sign up!

Are you new to this community? Start here, friend.

School No. 4 of the city of Kirovo-Chepetsk - School of the future first-grader

Copyright MCOU UIOP No. 4 © 2022

The series of developing notebooks "We are preparing for school!"

A series of developing notebooks “Getting ready for school!” is included in the program and methodological complex of preschool education (PMK DO) "Mosaic PARK" and ensures continuity at the stage of transition from preschool education to school.

A set of developmental notebooks designed for children of senior preschool age and complies with the Federal State Educational Standard. The notebooks contain a variety of tasks that form the child's arbitrariness, the prerequisites for learning activities, and motor functions (logical tasks, mazes, puzzles, coloring books, etc.). An important characteristic of these notebooks is the focus on organizing joint activities of a child with an adult, children with each other.

All tasks have a game form and are gradually becoming more complex, which allows preschoolers to develop independence and arbitrariness in their performance. Working with notebook assignments, the child will learn to plan and organize his work, get the desired result, which will help him quickly adapt to the next stage of education - elementary school.

Set of developing notebooks "Getting ready for school!" addressed to educators and parents for systematic developmental work with preschoolers in preschool and in the family. The series is regularly updated and currently has 19developing notebooks in the following areas.

DEVELOPMENT OF ELEMENTARY MATHEMATICAL REPRESENTATIONS

• It's fun to walk together, I count to five. 5-6 years old.
• Funny games with numbers and figures: part 1. 6–7 years old.
• Funny games with numbers and figures: part 2. 6–7 years old.
• We play, count, solve puzzles! part 1. 6–7 years old.
• We play, count, solve puzzles! part 2. 6–7 years old.
• Down-up, left-right. 6–7 years old.
• What time is it? 6–7 years old.

PREPARATION FOR WRITTEN SPEECH FOR CHILDREN (WRITING AND READING)

• Letter by letter - a fun trip! part 1. 6–7 years old.
• Letter by letter - a fun trip! part 2. 6–7 years old.
• Our fingers want to write different letters! 6–7 years old.

MASTERING YOUR OWN AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY

• The world around is kind and safe: part 1. 5–6 years.
• The world around is kind and safe: part 2. 6–7 years old.

EXPERIENCE WITH THE WORLD

• Such different objects. 5-6 years old.
• The world in which I live: part 1. 5–6 years old.
• The world in which I live: part 2. 6–7 years old.
• Children, get ready for school! 6–7 years old.
• I am human. 6–7 years old.
• Getting acquainted with plants. 6–7 years old.
• Getting to know animals. 6–7 years old.

	Getting to know animals: a developmental notebook for children of the preparatory school group of preschool educational institutions. 6-7 years old Author S.N. Mikhailovskaya
	It's fun to walk together, I count to five. Developing notebook for children of the senior group of preschool educational institutions (2nd half of the year). 5–6 years old Author E.A. Pyankova
	Fun games with numbers and shapes. Developing notebook for children of the preparatory school group of preschool educational institutions (1st half of the year). 6–7 years old. At 2 p.m. Ch. 1 Author E.A. Pyankova
	Fun games with numbers and shapes. Developing notebook for children of the preparatory school group of preschool educational institutions (1st half of the year). 6–7 years old. At 2 p.m. Ch. 2 Author E.A. Pyankova
	We play, count, solve puzzles! Developing notebook for children of the preparatory school group of preschool educational institutions (2nd half of the year). 6–7 years old. At 2 pm Part 1 Author E.A.Pyankova
	We play, count, solve puzzles! Developing notebook for children of the preparatory school group of preschool educational institutions (2nd half of the year). 6–7 years old. At 2 pm Part 2 Author E.A. Pyankova
	Down-up, left-right. Developing notebook for children of the preparatory school group of preschool educational institutions (1st half of the year). 6-7 years old Author O.A. Samusenko
	What time is it? Developing notebook for children of the preparatory school group of preschool educational institutions (2nd half of the year). 6-7 years old Author O.A. Samusenko
	Letter by letter - a fun trip! Developing notebook for children of the preparatory school group of preschool educational institutions (1st half of the year). 6–7 years old. At 2 p.m. Ch. 1 Author O.A. Samusenko
	Letter by letter - a fun trip! Developing notebook for children of the preparatory school group preschool educational institution (2nd half of the year). 6-7 years old. At 2 p.m. Ch. 2 Author O.A. Samusenko
	Our fingers want to write different letters! Developing notebook for children of the preparatory school group of preschool educational institutions (2nd half of the year). 6–7 years old Author O.A. Samusenko
	The world around is kind and safe. Developing notebook for children of the senior group of preschool educational institutions (2nd half of the year). 5–6 years old. At 2 p.m. Ch. 1 Author I.S. Artyukhov
	The world around is kind and safe. Developing notebook for children of the preparatory school group of the preschool educational institution (1st half of the year). 6–7 years old. At 2 p.m. Ch. 2 Author I.S. Artyukhova
	Such different objects. Developing notebook for children of the senior group of preschool educational institutions (2nd half of the year). 5-6 years old Author O.A. Samusenko
	The world in which I live. Developing notebook for children of the senior group of preschool educational institutions (2nd half of the year). 5–6 years old. At 2 p.m. Ch. 1 Author V.I. Romanov
	The world in which I live. Developing notebook for children of the preparatory school group of the preschool educational institution (1st half of the year). Learn more Pre k letter recognition Preschool learn to read books What do children learn in pre k Adjectives to describe my child Limit math is fun Reading words for kindergarten What age do kids learn abcs Educational game ideas Learning to print Do kids learn to read in kindergarten Capitals and lowercase letters