Left and right are surprisingly complex ideas. The words change depending on which way a person is facing, and a child must connect language with body awareness, memory and space. Some autistic and ADHD children may know the answer one day and pause the next, especially when rushed. Confusion is not carelessness.
Begin on the child’s own body
Choose one consistent cue for the right hand—perhaps a soft red wristband, washable dot or preferred bracelet. Keep it comfortable and ask the child’s permission before touching or marking their body. Say, “Red is on your right hand,” then use the same cue during short, enjoyable activities.
Lincolnshire Children’s Therapy Services suggests starting with physical and verbal cues, then gradually moving to verbal cues alone (First Move resource). Try:
- touching or pointing near the cued hand and saying, “Lift your right hand”;
- stepping one pace right, returning to the middle, then stepping left;
- throwing a matching beanbag into a hoop on the same side;
- copying two-beat rhythms with one hand at a time.
Never force physical prompting. Pointing, modelling, pictures or AAC directions can work just as well.
Keep the viewpoint steady
Stand beside the child at first, both facing the same direction. Facing one another reverses what the child sees and can make early practice harder. Use the child’s own left and right before asking about another person’s body, a map or a page.
Wirral University Teaching Hospital notes that children build movement skills through everyday activity and need experience understanding directions such as left, right, front and back (NHS occupational therapy guidance). Keep practice brief and predictable: two minutes while dressing, walking or setting the table is enough.
Make cues useful in real life
Place a removable colour marker inside the matching shoe, on the side of a drawer or at the edge of a worksheet. Give extra processing time before repeating the instruction. If the child guesses, show the cue and say the answer neutrally.
Move gradually from my body, to objects beside me, and finally to routes or maps. AutDHD’s visual-routine guide and before-and-after guide can support other foundational concepts.
This is general information shared for parent awareness, not medical advice. Every child is different — please confirm decisions with your child’s doctor or a suitably qualified professional.