RL.B.26 FOLLOWS ONE SIMPLE TWO-WORD OR THREE-WORD DIRECTION

At this point there are likely to be several simple directions that your child follows already –directions such as ‘look’, ‘take’, ‘point’, ‘give’, ‘wave bye-bye’ and ‘clap hands’.

Now it is time to diversify the directions that your child follows. We begin by teaching directions that are expressed as phrases rather than single words. The child learns to recognise each phrase as a single entity, and is not yet required to distinguish between the individual words within the phrase. It may help to look at such directions as long and complicated single words. Your child does not know, and does not yet need to know, that they really consist of several words, each of which can stand quite independently.

The first such direction that a child follows will reflect the games and playful rituals that the child’s family enjoys. It might well be ‘Tickle Mummy’ or ‘Twiddle your toes’ or ‘Bounce like a ball’. It will be a phrase that she hears often, and will probably be one that she associates with fun and excitement.

Assess this skill informally, by observing your child’s response when you give simple two-word or three-word directions. Score plus is she can follow at least one such direction.

If your child does not follow one such direction, choose one you use often in your play with your child, and teach by demonstration, adding physical help if necessary.