Following directions is a crucial skill for daily tasks. These 120 directions target simple and complex goals, covering 4 types of directions– basic, spatial, conditional, and sequential directions. Organized for easy data collection, they can be modified to fit your client’s needs by adjusting wording or combining tasks for increased complexity. This flexible tool is perfect for addressing diverse direction-following goals.

Basic Directions

Basic directions are simple instructions that help someone complete a task. They can involve body movements, using objects, or making sounds while building listening, comprehension, and sequencing skills.

1 STEP- BODY PARTS2 STEP- BODY PARTS
1. Touch your nose1. Touch your nose and then clap your hands
2. Raise your hand2. Stomp your feet and wave your hands
3. Stomp your feet3. Wiggle your fingers and blink your eyes
4. Wiggle your fingers4. Shrug your shoulders and nod your head
5. Nod your head5. Tap your knees and then stretch your arms up
6. Blink your eyes6. Cross your legs and then touch your toes
7. Wave your hands7. Raise your right hand and then spin in a circle
8. Shrug your shoulders8. Touch your ears and then snap your fingers
9. Tap your knees9. Blink your eyes twice and then smile
10. Cross your legs10. Shake your head and then give a thumbs-up
1 STEP- OBJECTS2 STEP- OBJECTS
11. Pick up the book11. Pick up the book and point to the pencil
12. Open the door12. Open the door and then point to the light
13. Turn on the light13. Throw the ball and then point to the floor
14. Throw the ball14. Push the chair in and then sit down
15. Push the chair in15. Hold the pencil and then draw a circle
16. Close the notebook16. Drop the toy and point to the door
17. Hold the pencil17. Point to the clock and then touch your notebook
18. Drop the toy18. Stack the blocks and then knock them down
19. Point to the clock19. Turn on the light and look up
20. Stack the blocks20. Open the box and take out a toy
1 STEP- VOCALIZATIONS2 STEP- VOCALIZATIONS
21. Say your name21. Say your name and then whisper it
22. Count to five out loud22. Count to five and then meow like a cat
23. Whisper “hello”23. Sing a song and then hum the last part
24. Sing a song24. Shout “hooray!” and then laugh
25. Laugh out loud25. Growl like a lion and then squeak like a mouse
26. Hum a tune26. Say “hello” and then whistle
27. Shout “hooray!”27. Whisper “goodnight” and then pretend to snore
28. Make a buzzing sound28. Make a buzzing sound and then a beeping sound
29. Growl like a lion29. Clap and say “yay!” and then count to five
30. Say “yay!”30. Ask, “How are you?” and then say, “I’m great!”

Spatial Directions

Spatial directions are instructions that guide movement and object placement in relation to space. They help build listening, comprehension, and problem-solving skills by using concepts like position, direction, and distance.

1 STEP- BASIC2 STEP- BASIC
31. Put the toy in the box31. Put the ball in the box and close the lid
32. Place the book on the table32. Place the book on the shelf and take another book off
33. Stand up from your chair33. Stand up and then sit back down
34. Sit down on the floor34. Crawl under the table and then come out
35. Hide under the blanket35. Take your shoes off and put them together by the door
36. Take your shoes off36. Step away from the chair and sit on the rug
37. Pull the paper out of the folder37. Jump up and then touch the floor down
38. Clap your hands together38. Take the toy out of the bag and place it in the box
39. Move away from the door39. Sit together with a friend and then move away from them
40. Put the lid on the jar40. Hide under the blanket and then peek out
1 STEP- INTERMEDIATE2 STEP- INTERMEDIATE
41. Stand next to the chair41. Stand next to the chair and then walk behind the table
42. Place your cup beside the plate42. Put your bag by the door and sit beside the window
43. Sit between two friends43. Sit between two friends and then move in front of them
44. Hide behind the couch44. Walk around the chair and stop near the desk
45. Stand in front of the mirror45. Place your hands behind your back and then step in front of the group
46. Walk around the table46. Move near the whiteboard and then sit by the bookshelf
47. Sit near the window47. Stand beside the teacher and then walk around the table
48. Put your bag by the door48. Put a block between two others and then place one next to them
49. Step in front of the line49. Walk by the couch and then sit between two pillows
50. Move around the cone50. Jump in front of the line and then step behind it
1 STEP- ADVANCED2 STEP- ADVANCED
51. Walk through the doorway51. Walk through the doorway and then sit in the middle of the rug
52. Point to the nearest chair52. Point to the nearest chair and then sit below the table
53. Stand in the corner of the room53. Stand in the corner of the room and then walk toward the window
54. Sit in the middle of the circle54. Hold the book above your head and then place it below the table
55. Hold your hands above your head55. Walk across the room and then stop in the middle
56. Look below the table56. Move toward the board and then step through the door
57. Walk across the room57. Sit in the middle of the row and then point to the nearest toy
58. Move toward the door58. Place the block below the shelf and then move it above the table
59. Crawl through the tunnel59. Run across the yard and then stand in the corner
60. Stand below the sign60. Walk toward the playground and then go through the tunnel

Conditional Directions

If/then directions are instructions that guide a specific action based on a condition. They help develop listening, comprehension, and logical thinking by connecting a particular situation or object to a required response.

IF/THEN- BASIC
61. If dogs bark loudly, clap your hands
62. If I show you the book, touch your nose
63. If apples are red, tap your foot
64. If I give you a pen, touch your shoulder
65. If it’s sunny outside, spin around
66. If I say “jump,” touch your toes
67. If ice cream is cold, say your name
68. If I say “green,” hop on one foot
69. If I show you a picture, count to five out loud
70. If I give you the ball, say “catch”
71. If I say “sit,” wave your hand
72. If the sun is hot, sit down
73. If I say “start,” touch your elbow
74. If I say “stop,” blink your eyes
75. If I give you the paper, say the word “square”
IF/THEN- COMPLEX
76. If the car is red, touch your head. If not, touch your knee
77. If the book is open, touch your knees. If not, touch your ear
78. If the pencil is sharp, stomp your feet. If not, blow a kiss
79. If you are wearing a blue shirt, tap your foot. If not, jump up and down
80. If the tree is tall, jump up and down. If not, point to the wall
81. If the chair is blue, clap your hands. If not, stick out your tongue
82. If the toy is soft, touch your nose. If not, touch your elbow
83. If the ball is round, raise your hand. If not, stand on one foot
84. If a cat is loud, sit down. If not, close your eyes
85. If the block is red, spin around. If not, look at the ceiling
86. If the door is open, touch your ears. If not, kick your feet
87. If you are wearing socks, count to five. If not, count to three
88. If you are sitting, stand up. If not, wave your hands
89. If the walls are yellow, roll your eyes. If not, touch your ear
90. If you are wearing shorts, touch your toes. If not, show me your elbows

Sequential Directions

Sequential directions are tasks that involve following given directions in a specific order. They build listening, comprehension, and logical thinking skills for tasks like following a recipe or conducting an experiment.

91. First touch your nose, then spin in a circle
92. First draw a star, then hop on one foot
93. First close your eyes, then count to five out loud
94. First wave to me, then pat your head
95. First clap three times, then whisper your favorite color
96. First pick up a book, then put it on a chair
97. First take a big step forward, then take two steps back
98. First snap your fingers, then count backwards from five
99. First open a window, then jump in place
100. First blink twice, then wiggle your fingers
101. First point to something blue, then touch your elbow
102. First tap your foot, then shake your hands
103. First hum a song, then touch your toes
104. First look up at the ceiling, then whisper your name
105. First count to five, then touch something soft
106. Jump three times before you touch the floor
107. Spin in a circle before you sit down
108. Say your favorite food before you touch your nose
109. Wiggle your fingers before you clap your hands
110. Name something cold before you blink five times
111. Say a silly word before you take a deep breath
112. Stomp your feet before you whisper your name
113. Raise your hands before you close your eyes
114. Cross your arms before you stand on one foot
115. Touch your chin before you look to the left
116. Point to the sky after you touch your toes
117. Tap your knee after you spin in a circle
118. Make a funny face after you jump twice
119. Touch something soft after you take two steps forward
120. Shake your head after you count to four