One mistake that adults sometimes make in giving directions to children and youths is to phrase directions as questions. Another is to give directions as if they are advice. Here are some examples of each:
- Asking questions:
- O.K., everyone, why don’t you turn in your work now?
- Where are your pen and paper supposed to be?
- Jimmy, don’t you think it would be a good idea to clear your desk and get ready for reading?
- If you think about it just a little bit, wouldn’t you think that other people would rather you put your trash in the trashbasket?
- What should you be doing right now?
- What part of ‘get a move on’ don’t you understand?
- Giving advice:
- I recommend that you start on that assignment right now.
- You better not leave that book just lying there.
- You need to take a seat.
- It would be really smart to turn in your report.
- The best thing for you to do is shut your mouth and start following directions.
Quasi-directions such as these invite argument and, of course, non-compliance. It is wiser to tell students what to do directly and simply. Here are examples of doing it the better way:
- Please put your materials away.
- Turn in your work, please.
- Please sit down.
- Please follow the directions on the board.
Now, mind you my youngest child has a significant disability, but I’ve discovered that anything that can be legitimately answered with “no”, “I don’t know”, “I don’t think so”, or is unnecessarily provocative on my part is probably not the best way for me to deliver an instruction and have reliable cooperation and compliance. Interestingly enough, clarity seems to work equally well with my “typical” child and even my spouse.
Thank you for highlighting a simple strategy that may not be given as much weight as it could.