Kid Talk for Project SPIES

Chapter 10 - Managing Behavior

One or Two Steps

It's difficult for young children to follow more than one or two steps at a time, so keep your instructions short. By keeping your instructions short you'll have an easier time staying clear and positive as well. It's better to have 2 short instructions that the child can understand and follow, than one extremely long instruction that has too much information.

Examples

Too Long

One or Two Steps

You say: "Well, we've got to get all this stuff picked up now so you'll have to get the blocks and put them in the block can and then pick up all the cars and put them in the box at the end of the bed, then you'll have to put the can of blocks and the box of trucks in the closet."

You say: "Put the blocks in this can and take it to the closet." (wait for child to complete)

You say: "Now put the cars in this box and take it to the closet." (Wait for child to complete)

Go back to Making positive statements

Go on to Have my child's attention FIRST!

This page last updated on June 4, 2003