ADHD exercise, following an instruction

Put on your coat. Five minutes later, the child is playing in their bedroom, barefoot. For a child with ADHD, following an instruction through to the end is often difficult. They forget it along the way, get distracted, have only heard half of it. Here are some exercises to help, and tips for giving instructions that are easier to follow.

Why instructions get lost

To follow an instruction, one must listen to it through to the end, understand it, keep it in mind, then carry it out without getting distracted. In a child with ADHD, each of these steps can be a problem. They only listen to the beginning. They forget the end. They start, then get caught up in something else.

This is not disobedience. It is a difficulty with attention and working memory. We can help them follow instructions better, by training these skills and adapting the way instructions are given. The two go together, and one without the other does not work well. Many parents will recognise themselves in the page my child doesn’t listen.

Giving an instruction well

The way an instruction is given makes a big difference. First, get the child’s attention: call them by their first name, get down to their level, wait until they look at us. Give a short and precise instruction. Put your shoes on, rather than get ready. Then wait for them to start.

Avoid giving an instruction from a distance, shouting from another room, or while they are watching a screen. They would not really hear it. Also avoid multiple instructions. One at a time, and the next one only once the first is done. They manage better.

Repeating before acting

An effective strategy is to ask the child to repeat the instruction before acting. What did I ask you to do? They repeat it. If they get it wrong, we calmly go over it again. They keep the instruction in mind. They act, without needing us to tell them again.

Gradually, they get into the habit of repeating the instruction to themselves, even without being asked. They retain it better. They forget less. This strategy also helps them in class. It draws on working memory.

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Longer and longer instructions

We can train the child to follow longer and longer instructions, in the form of a game. One simple instruction, then two, then three. Touch your nose, hop on one foot, then sit down. They must remember everything and do it all in order. They have fun.

We can teach them to count the steps on their fingers. Three instructions, three fingers. They lower one finger for each step completed. They know when they have finished. They do not stop halfway. They are proud of succeeding, and often ask for a longer instruction.

Written instructions

At school, written instructions are also a problem. The child with ADHD tends to read the beginning and start too quickly. We teach them to read the instruction through to the end, to underline the action verb, to circle the important words. They repeat it in their own words. Then they start.

A small card with these steps drawn on it can help them remember. It stays tucked in their pencil case. They take it out at the start of each task. They make fewer mistakes. Written instructions in class are covered on ADHD and reading instructions.

Instruction games

Several games train the ability to follow instructions. Simon says, which requires listening carefully. Course games with an instruction on each square. Treasure hunts with clues to follow. Cooking recipes, step by step.

These games make the exercise enjoyable, away from an atmosphere of reproach. The child is motivated. They train without realising it. They make progress. They discover the pleasure of succeeding. Other games are offered on the page on playful exercises.

In class and in sessions

In class, the teacher can adapt their instructions: give them one at a time, write them on the board, check that the pupil has understood, ask them to rephrase. The PAP can mention them explicitly. The other pupils also benefit. The pupil with ADHD follows better. They are less often reprimanded.

A psychologist or a psychomotor therapist can also work on understanding and following instructions in sessions. The ProfessionnelsDys directory makes it possible to find them by town. The profiles describe their specialities. Classroom adaptations are described on the page what can be put in place in class.