If you’ve ever asked your child to put on their shoes, only to find them five minutes later building a spaceship out of LEGOs, you are not alone. Getting kids to actually hear what we say—and then do it—can feel like trying to teach a goldfish to juggle.
I have two kids myself, so I know the struggle of repeating the same instruction fifteen times before the words finally register. The good news? Listening is a skill, and skills can be practiced. You don’t need fancy workbooks or flash cards. You just need to play.
I’ve rounded up ten of my favorite following directions activities that turn listening into a game. These aren’t just useful for parents; teachers love these tricks too. Ready to feel like your child actually hears you? Let’s get to it.
Why Do Kids Struggle with Directions Anyway?
Before we jump into the fun stuff, it helps to understand why “Please brush your teeth” sometimes sounds like “Blah blah blah blah blah” to their little brains. It’s rarely intentional defiance.
Listening is a complex skill. It requires a child to hear the words, process the meaning, ignore distractions, and then physically execute the task. That’s a lot for a developing brain! Combine that with the fact that kids live in the moment, and you’ve got a recipe for forgotten requests.
The activities below are designed to strengthen those mental muscles. They build what I like to call the “listen-do” connection without your child even realizing they’re working. Sneaky? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely.
1. The Classic “Simon Says”
You probably saw this one coming, right? It’s a classic for a reason. Simon Says is the gold standard for teaching kids to listen carefully and discriminate between a real command and a fake one.
The beauty of this game is its simplicity. You can play it anywhere—in the living room, waiting at a restaurant, or even in the grocery store line. Plus, watching your kids freeze in silly positions is pure entertainment.
How to play: You are Simon. Give commands like “Simon says touch your nose” or “Simon says hop on one foot.” If you give a command without saying “Simon says” first, anyone who follows it is out (or just gets a playful “gotcha!”).
- Why it works: It forces kids to really listen to the whole sentence before reacting. They can’t just hear “touch your nose” and do it; they have to check for the magic words first.
2. The “Beat the Clock” Clean-Up
Ever notice how a simple request like “pick up your blocks” gets met with the speed of a sloth on vacation? Introducing a timer can change everything.
The Game: Grab your phone or a physical kitchen timer. Set it for a ridiculously short amount of time—say, five minutes. Then, rattle off a list of directions: “Put the red blocks in the bin, put your books on the shelf, and throw this wrapper in the trash.”
The ticking clock creates a sense of urgency that magically bypasses the procrastination center of the brain. It’s not a chore anymore; it’s a race.
- Pro Tip: I sometimes set the timer and then “struggle” to do my own task nearby. “Oh no, I’m not going to make it! You’re so fast!” This amps up the excitement and gives them a confidence boost. They aren’t just following directions; they’re winning. 😀
3. Drawing by Dictation
This activity is fantastic because it has a built-in reward at the end: a silly picture. It’s also a great way to gauge how well they’re processing multi-step instructions.
How it works: Give your child a blank piece of paper and some crayons. You provide a series of verbal instructions to create a specific drawing. For example:
- “Draw a large blue circle in the middle of the page.”
- “Now draw a small red square on top of the circle.”
- “Draw three green lines coming out of the bottom of the circle.”
When you’re done, compare drawings. FYI, they will almost certainly look nothing like what you had in your head, and that’s the best part.
- Why it works: This requires active listening, comprehension, and precise execution. It’s a fantastic, low-pressure way to practice. IMO, it’s also a great lesson in how the same words can be interpreted differently.
4. The “Go on a Treasure Hunt”
Forget just telling your child to do something. Turn it into an adventure. Indoor or outdoor scavenger hunts are incredible for practicing following directions.
The Game: Give them a list of things to find. For pre-readers, use pictures. For early readers, simple words work. You can make the directions specific: “Find something that is softer than a pillow,” or “Bring me two things that start with the letter B.”
You can even level it up with positional language. “Look under the thing that keeps food cold” or “Go to the room with the big, soft thing you sleep on.” This forces them to process the clue, translate it, and then physically go and do it.
5. Musical Statues (With a Twist)
Everyone knows Musical Statues—you dance when the music plays, freeze when it stops. It’s great for impulse control. But let’s add a language layer.
The Twist: Instead of just freezing, give a direction when the music stops. Shout out something like, “Touch something blue!” or “Hop to the couch!”
Now, they have to not only stop their bodies but also immediately process a new command. It adds a wonderful layer of complexity to a familiar game. And yes, watching a room full of kids freeze mid-spin and then frantically look for something blue is comedy gold. :/
6. Parachute Play (or Blanket Play)
If you have a old bedsheet or a lightweight blanket, you have a toy. Parachute games are a staple in early childhood classrooms because they require cooperation and listening.
How to play: Sit on the floor with your child holding the edges of the blanket. You give commands like:
- “Lift it high!”
- “Shake it fast!”
- “Put it on our laps!”
- “Run under it!”
The need for coordinated movement means they have to listen to sync up with you. It’s a physical and auditory workout wrapped in one.
7. The “Direction Following” Obstacle Course
This is my go-to on rainy afternoons when energy levels are high and patience is low. An obstacle course doesn’t have to be elaborate. Use pillows to crawl over, a chair to go under, and a line of tape to walk on.
The Game: Before they start, give them the sequence of instructions for the course. “First, crawl over the pillows. Next, go under the chair. Then, walk on the line. Finally, spin around twice and sit on the couch.”
If they forget a step? No problem. They either have to ask for a reminder (a win for communication) or figure it out. This builds working memory along with listening skills.
8. Cooking Together
Cooking is basically a delicious lesson in following directions. There’s a sequence, specific actions, and a clear outcome. You can’t just throw the flour in whenever you feel like it.
Get them involved: Let them be the “head chef” while you’re the “sous chef.” Read the recipe steps out loud and have them do the work. “Pour one cup of milk into the bowl. Now crack the egg. Now stir it ten times.”
- The bonus: They learn a life skill, they feel a sense of accomplishment when they eat the final product, and you get a tiny bit of help in the kitchen. It’s a win-win-win. Just be prepared for a little bit of extra mess. 🙂
9. The “What Did I Say?” Echo Game
This one sounds almost too simple, but it’s incredibly effective, especially for kids who tend to zone out or impulsively say “Okay!” without actually hearing the request.
The Game: After you give a direction, simply ask, “Okay, just to make sure I said it clearly, what did I ask you to do?” Have them repeat the instruction back to you in their own words.
This isn’t about being tricky. It’s about helping them encode the information. By verbalizing it themselves, they’re transferring it from short-term memory to a more actionable place in their brain. It cuts down on the “I forgot what you said” excuse by about 90%. Seriously, try it.
10. Story Time with a Purpose
Reading together is already amazing, but you can tweak it slightly to focus on listening. Choose a book with repetitive phrases or clear sequences, like We’re Going on a Bear Hunt or The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
The Activity: As you read, pause and ask them to fill in the next word or phrase. Or, ask them to act out the story as you read it. When the character knocks on the door, they knock on the floor. When the character walks through the mud, they stomp their feet.
This keeps them actively engaged in the narrative and listening for cues. It turns a passive activity into an active listening mission.
Quick Tips for Better Results
Activities are great, but a few small tweaks to your daily interactions can make a world of difference. Here’s what I’ve learned through trial and (mostly) error with my own two:
- Get on their level. Don’t shout from the kitchen. Walk over, crouch down, and make eye contact first. This signals that what you’re about to say is important.
- Keep it simple. If you rattle off a list of five things, they’ll remember “clean your room” and maybe nothing else. Break complex directions into smaller, manageable chunks.
- Give them a moment. After you ask, pause for 5-10 seconds. Kids often need a moment to process the request and transition from whatever they were doing. That pause can save you from repeating yourself five times.
- Praise the effort. When they do follow through, acknowledge it specifically. Instead of “good job,” try “I really liked how you listened carefully and put your cup in the sink right when I asked.”
When Things Go Sideways (And They Will)
Look, none of this is magic. There will still be days when you ask them to put on a jacket and they somehow end up painting their toenails. It happens. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s progress.
If an activity flops or your child is clearly too tired/hungry/overstimulated to play along, just drop it. The best learning happens when everyone is having fun. Forcing it will only make you both frustrated. There’s always tomorrow.
Ever noticed how kids have a sixth sense for the one time you really need them to listen? Like when you’re already late for school? Yeah, me too. The trick is to build these skills during the calm moments, so they’re slightly more accessible during the chaos.
So grab a timer, dig out a bedsheet, or just start playing Simon Says at the dinner table tonight. You might be surprised at how quickly those little ears start to perk up. And who knows? Maybe, just maybe, they’ll get their shoes on the first time you ask.
Eventually. 😀
What’s your go-to trick for getting your kids to listen? I’m always looking for new ideas to add to my bag of parenting tricks!
