Here's What To Do
1
Tell your child you're going to play a listening game.
2
Give your child a series of 2-step directions. Some examples:
- Clap your hands, stomp your feet
- Touch your head, touch your toes
- Jump up, turn around
- Reach up to the sky, touch the ground
- (whatever you'd like!)
3
Invite your child to give you 2-step directions to follow.
Put PEER Into Action
P
Pause:
- Clap 3 times together with your child.
E
Engage:
- "Let's play a game! You'll listen to my directions, then do what I say."
- "Ready? Clap, then stomp!"
E
Encourage:
- "Great, you were really listening. First you clapped, then you stomped!"
- Avoid repeating the second step if you can. Try to let your child remember the directions on their own.
R
Reflect:
- Does your child seem to be able to remember both parts of a 2-step direction without you repeating the direction?
Not quite ready?
Ask your child to remember things they did yesterday or earlier in the same day.
Ready for more?
Try 3-step or 4-step directions.
As your child masters this skill...
They will be able to listen to two-step directions, remember them, and follow them.