I’ll be honest, one of my biggest challenges with starting a new school year is beginning at square one.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s also one of the things I love most about teaching Kindergarten. Watching students grow from those first uncertain days into confident, independent learners is incredibly rewarding.
But before that growth happens, there’s a lot to teach.
Students need to learn classroom routines, how to line up, where to put their supplies, how to write their names, and perhaps most importantly, how to listen and follow directions. It’s a lot.
I’m sure you can relate! Luckily, I am going to share some of my favorite ways to teach following directions activities for kindergarten.
I am going to also highlight one of my favorite resources that I use to improve listening and following directions: Listen and Laugh®.
Why Following Directions Is SO Important in Kindergarten
Before exploring some of my favorite following directions activities for kindergarten, it’s important to understand why this skill deserves so much attention. Following directions is certainly one of the most important foundational skills children learn in kindergarten. This is because it impacts nearly every part of the day. From morning routines, center time, art projects, and outdoor play. Children are constantly receiving instructions. When they can confidently follow those directions, they become more successful, more independent, and more confident learners.
Strong listening skills also support classroom safety, reduce frustration, and help students participate successfully in academic activities. In many ways, learning to follow directions also prepares children for everything else they’ll learn throughout the year and beyond.
Signs Your Students May Need More Practice Following Directions
For many young learners, following directions isn’t difficult because they aren’t trying! It’s difficult because there are so many new expectations to process at once. I say this because I need to remind myself of this frequently… Especially when I feel myself getting frustrated because listening is not happening.
You may notice students who have trouble getting started after instructions are given, frequently need reminders, complete tasks differently than expected, or become overwhelmed during multi-step activities. These are all common signs that a child may benefit from additional opportunities to practice listening and following directions.
Fortunately, listening is a skill that can be practiced and strengthened over time. The more opportunities children have to listen carefully in engaging, low-pressure situations, the more confident and successful they will become.
My Favorite Following Directions Activities for Kindergarten
One of the best ways to teach listening skills is to make it fun. Here are a few of my favorite following directions activities for kindergarten that children genuinely enjoy.
#1 Simon Says
It’s a classic for a reason! Simon Says is an excellent (and fun!) way for kids to practice listening carefully before taking action. We play this a LOT during the first few weeks of school.
The beauty of Simon Says is that it can be adapted for any group and any skill level. I recommend starting with simple one-step directions before gradually introducing two-step and even three-step directions as students become more confident.
#2 Directed Drawings
Directed drawings are another favorite. Children love watching simple shapes transform into recognizable pictures. Not only are students practicing listening and following sequential directions, but they’re also developing fine motor skills, confidence, and beginning drawing techniques.
You can easily lead directed drawings yourself, or find other options online. One of my favorite resources is Art for Kids Hub on YouTube. I especially love that a child draws alongside the professional, making it feel more achievable for young learners. Since the videos can be paused or replayed, they’re perfect to use in Kindergarten classrooms.
#3 Listen and Color Activities
Listen and color activities are so great because they combine listening, fine motor practice, and following directions into one engaging lesson. These activities are simple to prepare and can be adapted for a wide variety of themes throughout the year.
What is Listen and Laugh®?
One of my favorite following directions activities for kindergarten is my Listen and Laugh® series. This series is my version of listen and color activities. Each activity includes a picture for students to color as well as directions for the teacher to read out. As students complete tasks according to the oral directions, they learn to listen carefully, process information, and complete tasks independently.
Mixed in with the instructions are silly directions that will hopefully give your class a good laugh when you get to them. Students might suddenly be asked to pretend to splash their neighbor, walk like a crab, jump up and yell “Blast off!”, or complete another playful movement before returning to their picture. These unexpected moments keep children engaged, encourage active listening, and make practicing following directions something they actually look forward to.
With themes for Back to School, Christmas, Easter, Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, and many more, there’s a Listen and Laugh® activity for every season of the school year.
Why Listen and Laugh® Works
It is no secret that listening skills develop best when children are actively engaged. When doing Listen and Laugh® activities, students are listening, coloring, moving, and laughing. Rather than just sitting quietly. I find the playful movement breaks help maintain attention while reinforcing the importance of listening carefully for the next direction.
At the same time, students are strengthening oral language, following multi-step directions, developing fine motor skills, and practicing self-regulation; all while having fun! It’s one of those rare activities that feels like a game but provides many meaningful learning opportunities.
What’s Included in the Listen and Laugh® Bundle?
The Listen and Laugh® Bundle was designed to be easy for busy teachers to use. The bundle currently includes 18 themed downloads, with most themes containing 4–8 different activities. Each activity includes the student pictures along with a complete set of teacher directions. Each activity has approximately 10–12 oral directions, giving students plenty of opportunities to practice listening from beginning to end! If needed, it is easy to reduce the number of directions (if you do this, I would recommend keeping the last instruction, which is always “color the rest of the picture.”)
Even better, the Listen and Laugh® Bundle is an endless bundle. This means that every new Listen and Laugh activity I create is automatically added and available to you at no additional cost.
When to Use Listen and Laugh®
One of the best parts about the Listen and Laugh® activities is how flexible they are. If you’re looking for following directions activities for kindergarten that can easily fit into your daily schedule, these are a great option!
I often use these activities after recess or lunch when students need help transitioning back into learning. They’re also perfect for filling those awkward gaps between lessons without feeling like “busy work.” Although they’re designed as whole-class activities, I know many teachers also use them during small-group instruction. Working with smaller groups can help make following directions feel less overwhelming while allowing you to provide additional support where needed.
Skills Students Are Practicing
One of my favorite things about the Listen and Laugh® activities is that while students are busy laughing, coloring, and having fun, they’re also strengthening a wide range of important kindergarten skills.
Such as:
– active listening
– following one- and multi-step directions
– oral language development
– fine motor skills
– attention
– self-regulation
It’s a simple activity with benefits that extend well beyond the finished picture!
What Teachers Are Saying
Here is what other teachers are saying about Listen and Laugh® activities:
Ready to Try Listen and Laugh®?
If you’re looking for engaging following directions activities for kindergarten that are low prep, fun, and meaningful, My Listen and Laugh® Bundle might become your new favorite resource!
Whether you use them during morning meetings, after recess, in small groups, or as a quick transition activity, they’ll help your students build stronger listening skills while sharing plenty of laughs along the way.
Get the Listen and Laugh Bundle on TPT here: Listen and Laugh Bundle
Listening Today, Learning Tomorrow
Teaching children to follow directions isn’t just about helping the school day run more smoothly (although that is important too!) It’s about giving them the tools they need to become confident, independent learners. Every time students practice listening carefully, following a sequence, or completing a task successfully they’re building skills that will support them across every subject and throughout the entire school year.
I hope the following directions activities for kindergarten have given you some fresh ideas to try in your classroom! And if you’re looking for an engaging, low-prep resource that students will ask to do again and again, be sure to check out my Listen and Laugh Bundle.
Have questions about following direction activities or the Listen and Laugh Resources? Email me at [email protected].
