How to Teach a Child With ADHD to Follow Directions

Whether it̵7;s completing a homework assignment or getting ready for school, children with ADHD often have problems following directions. Of course, part of this is a concentration problem. According to Barbara Fisher, author of ̶0;Attention Deficit Disorder: Practical Coping Mechanisms,̶1; the length of some directions often puts off children with the disorder, who think in a more tangible, step-by-step process. By breaking up the directions into a set of clear steps and rewarding each step, you help your child be more willing to move through with all the directions. For short-term directions, such as completing a homework assignment, you have the ability to sit there and guide him; for a longer-term set of directions, you will often need to spend several days or weeks helping him form a habit.

Instructions

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      Set short-term, easy-to-achieve goals. Avoid making an edict that sounds like an edict in favor of a simple and tangible direction. For example, instead of setting a verbose, long-term goal such as ̶0;You shouldn̵7;t be late for school. Please be ready by 8:00 every morning after you̵7;ve showered and put on your clothes,̶1; start with a simple goal such as, ̶0;Shower before 7:30.̶1; Focus on the tangible and easily-met goals. You can cut up a series of directions in this way, allowing your child to complete each step, one at a time.

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      Reward short-term goals. Give praise and sometimes small rewards when your child meets a new goal. From here, you can move on to the next step in the directions. Or for long-term goals, directions you wish your child to habitually follow, do this over a period of time to reinforce the behavior. After a few days or weeks, the behavior will become habitual.

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      Turn short-term goals into long-term goals by adding more steps. Increase the level of the behavior once your child has shown consistency in achieving the first part. For example, once your child is consistently done showering before 7:30, tell him to shower and put on his clothes by 7:45. The addition of putting on his clothes is an easy step, and if showering has already become a habit, you can simply state the goal as ̶0;put on your clothes before 7:45.̶1; By continually adding to the directions, you create a natural process, or habit. Eventually, you will find success when telling your child to ̶0;be ready by 8:00.̶1; This is a long-term process but also an effective one.

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