How to Support Children Who Struggle to Understand Instructions

If you’ve ever found yourself repeating instructions over and over again…

“Sit down.”

“Coat on.”

“Line up.”

…and still not getting the response you expected,  you’re not alone.

This is something many teachers, teaching assistants and early years practitioners experience every day.

And it’s easy to assume that a child isn’t listening, isn’t concentrating, or isn’t trying.

But often, the difficulty isn’t behaviour.

💡 It’s understanding.

Why some children struggle to follow instructions

Following instructions relies on a range of underlying skills, including:

• understanding spoken language

• processing information quickly

• remembering what’s been said

• knowing what the words mean

For children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN), this can be challenging,  especially in busy, language-rich environments like classrooms and early years settings.

Things like:

• long instructions

• multiple steps

• lots of extra words

can make it much harder for children to keep up.

So when a child doesn’t follow an instruction, it’s not always about willingness.

👉 Sometimes, it’s about capacity.

What doesn’t tend to help

When something isn’t working, our instinct is often to:

• repeat the instruction

• say it louder

• add more explanation

But this can actually make things harder.

More language = more to process.

And if a child is already struggling, this can increase confusion rather than reduce it. This can sometimes lead to frustrations and overwhelm too.

What actually helps

Here are some simple, effective strategies that can make a real difference:

1. Simplify your language

Use fewer words and keep instructions clear.

Instead of:

❌  “Can you put your coat on because we’re going outside now?”

Try:

👉 “Coat on.”

Short, clear instructions are easier to process and act on.

2. Give processing time

After giving an instruction, pause, count to 3 (or 5 or 10).

Children with SLCN often need longer to:

• understand

• process

• respond

If we repeat too quickly, they don’t get the chance to work it out.

3. Use gestures and visuals

Pair your words with:

• pointing

• showing

• demonstrating

This gives children an extra way to understand what you mean.

4. Break instructions into steps

Instead of giving multiple instructions at once, break them down into chunks.

✅  “Get your book… (pause)… now sit down.”

This reduces the memory and processing load.

5. Check understanding differently

Instead of asking:

❌  “Do you understand?”

Try:

✅  “Show me what you need to do.”

This gives you a clearer picture of whether the instruction has been understood.

What this looks like in real life

These strategies aren’t about adding extra work for you to do, they’re about small shifts in what you’re already doing.

Used consistently, they can:

• reduce frustration

• increase independence

• help children feel more confident

And importantly, they support many children, not just one.

When to look a bit deeper

If a child is consistently struggling to understand instructions, even with support, it may be helpful to:

• observe patterns over time

• share concerns with your SENCO

• consider whether there are underlying speech and language needs

Early support can make a significant difference.

You don’t have to figure this out alone

Knowing what to do in the moment is one thing.

But feeling confident in:

• why it works

• when to use it

• how to adapt it

is something many professionals are still figuring out.

Inside The Speech & Language Garden, I share:

✔ practical strategies that fit into real classrooms✔ clear explanations (without jargon)✔ support to help you feel confident, not overwhelmed

Step Inside The Garden Here

Final thought

If a child isn’t following instructions, it’s always worth asking:

🤔 “Is this something they can’t do yet… rather than something they won’t do?”

That small shift in thinking can change everything for the child.