7 Ways to Give Better Instructions to Hyperlexic Learners

Want to better support your hyperlexic learners? Here are 7 ways to give better instructions to hyperlexic learners.

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With hyperlexic learners, it's important to remember that they "may find it easier to attend to and grasp language information that they see, better than that which they listen to, and meaning is often difficult to attach to words," (source) which is why relying solely on spoken or verbal instructions isn't ideal.

Instead, we need to ensure we're playing to the strengths of the hyperlexic learner and considering their unique learning profile whenever we give directions or instructions. Otherwise, the instructions we end up giving might be vague, confusing, or overwhelming. And that can lead to lots of other challenges.

So, what can you do to give better instructions to hyperlexic learners?

Well, let's take a look at some suggestions and quick tweaks on how to improve the directions you might already be giving.

7 Ways to Give Better Instructions to Hyperlexic Learners

If you want to give clearer instructions that stick and are easy to understand, then keep the following suggestions and strategies in mind.

1. Write out instructions by pairing written language with spoken language

One of the top tips for supporting hyperlexic learners is to write things down. That's something you will hear and see me share over and over again because it's incredibly helpful.

So, one of the best things to do when giving instructions to hyperlexic learners, is to also write those instructions down. After all, verbal instructions might get forgotten, misheard, or misunderstood. And, unlike written words, those spoken words disappear quickly.

Keep in mind that, when it comes to writing things down, you don't have to use anything fancy. It can be a quick message on a sticky note or something scribbled on a whiteboard.

But, it could also take the form of something more structured. Think checklists, assignment instructions, anchor charts, visual schedules, chore charts, rubrics, and so on.

The point here is to use written words to support executive functioning and language processing, while also playing to their strengths (as we'll discuss further in a bit).

2. Sing instructions or incorporate music

Another way to make instructions stick with hyperlexic learners is to sing them or incorporate music. You can use familiar tunes or make up songs that incorporate your instructions. For example, "wash, wash, wash your hands...wash them 'til they're clean" can be sung to Row, Row, Row Your Boat.

Try to make it fun and playful. Get silly, even. (Thankfully, my husband is brilliant at creating little jingles that blend silliness with helpful strategies and catchy tunes.)

However, please be mindful that many hyperlexic learners also have perfect pitch. As a result, they may not like it when you sing. So, this strategy may or may not work for your child, but it is still something worth exploring.

3. Use rich intonation when giving spoken instructions

Since hyperlexic learners are gestalt language processors, they're really drawn to rich intonation (and music, which is why the last strategy works so well!). You can lean into this when giving spoken instructions by emphasizing key words, making your speech more playful and musical by adding rhythm or melody, playing with pitch, using a sing-song voice, and/or exaggerating your tone of voice a little.

4. Break tasks down into individual steps

Sometimes instructions might be so broad and overwhelming that it's hard for hyperlexic learners to know where to start or what to do next. One thing that can really help is to break those instructions down into smaller parts and to give one instruction at a time.

Instead of saying, "brush your teeth," which has lots of little steps rolled into one, you might break it down like so:

• First, open the toothpaste.

• Next, put some toothpaste on your brush.

• (and then continue breaking down each step...)

When breaking things down, try to use short, direct sentences that make the step super clear. You might want to compile them into a written checklist or routine chart and pair each step with an image of some kind. Or, if you're using spoken language, then you'll want to remember to pause after each step to allow for processing (see tip #6 below).

5. Be clear and specific by saying exactly when you mean

Sometimes instructions can be really vague or abstract. Personally, we've noticed this with school assignments over the years and I wish teachers gave more detailed and clear instructions on them, but that's a rant for another day.

However, even our day-to-day requests as parents can be really vague. For instance, I once asked my son to grab something out of my purse from the closet. He asked me which purse (there were a few options that I rotate through), which pocket the thing was in (because purses have many!), what that thing looked like that he was supposed to be looking for (I forget what it was I even asked him to grab), which closet, etc. The point here is that his questions really highlighted how unspecific I was. I could have told him it was the pink purse and which closet the pink purse was in and so on...

So, in order to be clear and specific, say exactly what you mean. Avoid using idioms or vague words and be sure to name the exact item or action. Then also remember to provide enough details.

You'll also want to give instructions in order. And don't skip steps that might seem obvious (which will always make me think of the one potty training social story someone wrote for us years ago that didn't include flushing the toilet anywhere in the text).

Remember, the clearer and more specific your instructions are, the easier it is for hyperlexic learners to understand and follow those instructions.

6. Give time to process by pausing after giving instructions or individual steps

If you're not yet familiar with the power of pausing, I suggest you read this post about hyperlexia and auditory processing first.

Processing takes time for hyperlexic learners, especially with spoken words or tasks with multiple parts. If you move too quickly with more instructions or steps, you might overwhelm or confuse them. And that's where the pause comes in handy.

Giving a short pause between instructions can give hyperlexic learners the space they need to process and act. Pausing is such a simple thing to implement (when you remember to do it!), but it will make your instructions so much more effective.

Try to resist the urge to immediately repeat or rephrase instructions if they don't respond or act right away. We want to give them plenty of time to process and repeating or rephrasing things might complicate things or overwhelm them, especially if they're still trying to process what you originally said.

You'll also want to watch for signs that they're ready for the next step (e.g., starting the task/action, looking at you for more information). Keep in mind that these signs may be subtle and will vary from child to child so remember to pay close attention to the child.

7. Pair instructions with visuals

Pairing your instructions (whether that's written or spoken) with some visuals will make instructions concrete and easier to follow. Those visuals could be pictures, gestures, icons, examples of completed work, or even the physical object themselves.

Ideally, visuals should be placed where they're the most needed (e.g., in art class, hang up some examples of the finished art project on the board while explaining the project; next to each written step in a checklist).

Why These Tips Work Well

Now that you're armed with these 7 tips and strategies to try, let's take a closer look at why these particular tips work so well.

First things first, these tips play to their strengths. You're leaning into the hyperlexic strength of decoding in particular when you write things down and pair spoken language with visuals or text. Plus, you're using their love of words, visuals, and patterns, things that hyperlexic learners seek out, gravitate towards, and respond well to.

Another reason why these tips work so well is because they reduce overwhelm. When you take the time to break tasks down into manageable steps and write them down, there's less pressure on them to have to remember everything at once. Instead, our hyperlexic learners can reference them as much as they need and as often as they want. They don't have to worry or stress about what's next because you've already outlined those steps for them.

Additionally, these tips help avoid confusion because you're being clear, specific and literal, and you're adding context with visuals. These strategies actively help make instructions more concrete and easier to follow, which can reduce misunderstandings.

These tips also support and respect how hyperlexic learners develop and process language. Any time you sing, incorporate music, or use rich intonation, you are considering their gestalt language processing profile. You're also modeling potential gestalts that they can borrow and use themselves. And when you also take the time to write these gestalts down on top of that? Well, you're really showing that you understand the hyperlexic learning profile.

Remember, any time you write things down, use rich intonation, and allow for extra processing time, you are showing that you respect their processing differences. You are literally giving instructions in ways that truly align with how hyperlexic learners naturally understand and learn.

The above tips also encourage independence and build confidence for our hyperlexic learners. They can look at their written instructions, read or re-read the individual steps, look at the visuals for clarification, and see how they are to complete the task on their own without always needing to rely on someone else to help them (not that there's anything wrong with that as we all need help sometimes!).

It's also worth noting that these tips and strategies can also strengthen comprehension. For instance, pairing spoken instructions with written words and visuals gives them multiple ways to process the same information. And, by breaking tasks down for hyperlexic learners, you're making the instructions more accessible and easier to follow.

A Quick Recap on How to Make Instructions Clearer for Hyperlexic Learners

As discussed above, simply relying on spoken instructions with hyperlexic learners can lead to a lot of misunderstandings and confusion. That's why we want to make sure we give instructions that are tailored to them and their unique learning profile.

We can do this by writing things down, singing instructions, using rich intonation when we speak, and saying exactly what we mean. We can also break tasks down into individual steps and pair instructions with visuals. But we also want to make sure we give them time to process by remembering to pause and wait. I can't emphasize that enough.

So, the next time you give instructions to hyperlexic learners, keep these suggestions in mind. They can really make a huge difference, whether that's at home, at school, or during a therapy session.

Free Printable Colorful Stars I Spy Game

This free printable colorful stars I spy printable for kids is a perfect way to work on a variety of skills!

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Many hyperlexic learners have a passion or special interest for colors and shapes, especially as toddlers and preschoolers.

So, this free printable colorful stars I spy game leans into that love for colors and specifically one shape: stars! Simply count up the stars for each color and see how many there are.

By the way, since I live in Canada where we use colour versus color (although I tend to use the American spelling on this blog for simplicity), you will find two copies of this game included below, one with the American English spelling and one with the British English spelling. That way you can print the one that best suits your needs and spelling variant.

I Spy Games are Versatile!

I spy games are tons of fun and great for kids of all ages. You can use them with toddlers or preschoolers or even preteens and teens. I know that lots of people have even used my I spy games with elderly people and those with dementia.

What I love about I spy games is how versatile they are, even beyond appealing to various age groups. There are lots of different ways to use them (there's a section below with some ideas) and they can also be used in different settings.

For example, I spy games are perfect to use as a quick boredom buster activity at home when the kids are saying, "I'm bored!" Or to keep kids busy while you're cooking supper.

They can also be used in the classroom as part of a learning center or included in a specific lesson or unit. You could also use them as filler activities for those kids who finish their classwork quickly.

You could also print off a bunch of the I spy games, package them up into a binder, and create a busy book for road trips or plane rides. You could even laminate them first (here's the laminator I use and love) or put them into sheet protectors and use a dry erase marker so that the book could be reused over and over.

I spy games are also a great activity to use in speech or occupational therapy since they can be used to target a variety of skills, which we'll touch on in the next section.

The Benefits of I Spy Games for Kids

There are lots of benefits to playing I spy games like this colorful star themed one.

For instance, they're great for developing visual tracking skills and improving visual discrimination. After all, these printable games require kids to visually scan through the objects, compare and contrast them, and find all the ones that are the same.

Then there's obviously the math benefits. I spy games are a great way to practice and develop math skills such as sorting, counting, comparing, etc.

You can also work on fine motor skills using I spy games. You might cross off items, cover them in play dough, or use tongs to place pom poms to cover the items (see the next section for other ideas for how to use I spy games).

Furthermore, you could work on handwriting skills with I spy games. After all, there is an answer sheet to record your answers and kids can practice writing numbers or drawing tally marks.

Playing I spy games with your kids is also a great way to work on speech and language skills. You could target articulation and vocabulary for instance. All of my I spy games include written words to accompany the images to aid in comprehension, especially for hyperlexic learners.

I spy games can also be a great way to work on executive functioning related skills and working memory.

See, lots of benefits! Now, let's take a look at some different ways to use this I spy game.

How to Use this I Spy Game

The most obvious way to use this I spy game is to simply print and play (you'll be able to download your copy below). Just grab a pencil, start counting, and record the number of items you found on the answer key (write the number or use tally marks, if you'd prefer). 

Maybe you also want to cross off or circle items on the game sheet with a pencil as you find them.

Another option would be to use bingo dabbers or dot markers. You could also use pom poms or counters to cover the items as you count. You could even pair pom poms with tongs or tweezers to target different fine motor skills.

You could also laminate the I spy game first to make them reusable. Simply use dry erase markers to cross off the items as you find them and fill in the answer key. 

You could also use play dough instead of dry erase markers to cover the items on the laminated game sheet. That way you add an additional sensory component.

Finally, you can go digital by playing this I spy game right on the computer or tablet. You can also pull it up during a Zoom meeting, teletherapy session, or similar using the screenshare function. Then use the annotate tool to cross off the items.

Download the Free Printable Colorful Stars I Spy Game

This colorful stars I spy game has six pages: two game sheets (different spellings for colorful/colourful), two pages to record the answers (different spellings for colorful/colourful and gray/grey), and two answer keys (different spellings for grey/gray). Feel free to print off the page that makes sense for your regional spelling of colorful/colourful. Both the answer sheet and answer key include the image as well as written words to describe the object.

To get a copy of this I spy game, click the link below:

>> Click here to download the free printable

 

Want More I Spy Games?

You'll find even more themes in the I spy games bundle!

Click here to get your copy of the I spy games bundle

Everyday Objects Kids with Hypernumeracy Love & Can't Get Enough of

10+ everyday objects that kids with hypernumeracy love and can't get enough of.

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Kids with hypernumeracy don't just love numbers. They love anything that has numbers or let's them explore math, time, and patterns. So, you might notice that they gravitate towards a lot of everyday household objects with numbers on them instead of more traditional toys.

For instance, back when my son was a preschooler, we took calculators with us everywhere we went. There was always one in my purse. One in the diaper bag. One in his car seat. One or two in his hands. Calculators literally went with us everywhere.

Below you will find a list of common everyday objects or items that kids with hypernumeracy find enjoyable or enticing. Items that you might want to consider having on hand (if you don't already) or giving to them as a birthday or Christmas gift.

10+ Everyday Objects Hypernumeric Kids Can't Get Enough of

The following objects can spark so much joy for kids with hypernumeracy because they incorporate a lot of numbers or math related concepts. After all, numbers are everywhere and these kids notice them all.

You might already notice your child playing with some of the following objects, but you could also use this list to generate possible gift ideas, activity suggestions for play, or things you could make for your child. I've tried to include specific examples of things I've made over the years too. That way you have some inspiration for things you could try.

Here are some of the most popular favorites among hypernumeric kids:

1. Calculators

I've already mentioned how calculators went with us everywhere when my son was younger, but, even as a teenager, he always keeps a calculator nearby and handy. For a birthday one year, a good friend of mine gifted my son one of those accountant printing type calculators (something like this) and it was so well loved! By the way, if calculators are your child's thing, then you have to try these calculator word riddles as a way to practice WH questions. They're super fun!

2. Dice

My son has loved dice for as long as I can remember so we frequently buy him new colors and types of dice. You can even buy fractions dice, for instance, as well as alphabet dice or dice with pictures (e.g., Story Cubes). But, if your child loves numbers and math as much as mine does (which I'm assuming they do since you're here reading this!), then some good old regular dice or a set of D&D dice will likely be enticing enough.

3. Clocks, Watches, Stopwatches, Timers, & Countdowns

Perhaps you have a little one who loves time and clocks. Maybe they enjoy watching countdown videos on YouTube. If so, then you might want to consider having some spare clocks, watches, stopwatches, or timers on hand at home for your child to explore and play with. My son used to carry around this one monkey clock around with him everywhere he went. It was named Momo and it was supposed to be one of those "ready to wake clocks" and you can probably guess how well that worked, considering it went everywhere with us...haha.

4. Rulers

Whether it's a small ruler or a big yard stick, rulers can make for a great and fun toy for hypernumeric kids. Seriously, you can't go wrong with keeping some rulers on hand for your little one to play with. Plus, they have been a lifesaver tool for helping us with bath time anxiety (i.e., "let's add two inches of water to the tub and you can measure, okay?") and a fun addition to outdoor play (e.g., measuring leaves activity).

5. Cash Registers

While there are lots of great toy cash registers available to purchase, you might want to consider gifting a real cash register instead. Seriously, one of the best "toys" we ever had in our house was an old cash register that my parents had given us after they retired it from their storefront. You can see it featured here in one of our old playroom layouts.

I'm also going to mention here that many hypernumeric kids enjoy looking at receipts so if you do go with a real cash register, consider adding some register tape so they can print some receipts as well.

6. Tape Measures

You could try soft measuring tapes like the ones used for sewing, a retractable one, or pick up one of those paper ones when shopping at IKEA. Just a word of caution, though, some retractable tape measures can be sharp and slice fingers (ask me how I know...haha) so something to watch out for.

7. Calendars

You can also obviously find lots of numbers in calendars so it's probably not surprising that some hypernumeric kids really love to look at calendars. Perhaps you could try setting up some calendar themed activities like this gross motor calendar activity or this calendar hopscotch game. Or, you could buy them a calendar to hang in their room. I highly recommend a daily calendar. Perhaps a sudoku themed one to really lean into those numbers? At least, that's my son's current favorite at the moment.

8. Scoreboards

One of the most beloved toys I made my son was this felt scoreboard. He LOVED to keep track of scores all the time. Much like how he loves to watch sports tickers, scoreboards, stats, etc. whenever we watch basketball on TV. You might notice your little hypernumeric learner likes to watch scores and stats too so a scoreboard of their own might be a good idea.

9. Thermometers & Weather Displays/Apps

One of my son's other favorite non-toy toys is probably his digital weather station. We've upgraded it a few times over the years so he has a pretty fancy one now, but he loves to know the temperature, humidity, etc. all the time. So, having one in his bedroom has been helpful over the years. Prior to getting him one, he was always asking about the weather, temperature, etc. And he loved to look at thermostats when he was a preschooler! (Side note: curse whoever thought it would be a good idea to put a chair under a thermostat in the waiting room at the child development center. Of course, he would try to press buttons on it! You should have considered that...like come on...)

10. Scales

Scales can be fascinating to many hypernumeric kids, whether that's a kitchen scale or one to measure your body weight. So you might want to consider leaving a scale out for your child to use and weigh different objects since it can be a lot of fun for them.

11. Anything with Numbered Panels (e.g., elevators, telephones, keypads, ATMs)

Now, obviously, you're not going to go out and buy an ATM or an elevator here...However, you could give your child an old telephone to play with or create your own elevator using a giant cardboard box (it has numbered floor buttons too!). You could also make something like this telephone quiet book page with personalized phone book.

12. Speedometers/Odometers

You might notice your child commenting on your speed whenever you're driving. That's because they're always watching the speedometer and traffic signs. So, like the numbered panels thing above, you might have to get a bit creative in incorporating speedometers or odometers. For example, I made my boys a car sensory dashboard that had a speedometer and odometer incorporated (although those numbers nor the speed never changed, but he still liked it).

13. Step Counters or Fitness Trackers

I remember the first time we gave our boys each a simple pedometer to wear around the house and they thought it was the best thing ever, running around and counting their steps. So, if might be a great gift idea that you might not have considered before.

Some Reminders About Hypernumeric Play

Remember, for kids with hypernumeracy, their play might look quite different from their peers and that's okay. Numbers, patterns, and math are their playground. It's how they learn and explore the world around them. So, you might see them opting for things like rulers and timers over LEGO bricks and cars and that's 100% okay. You want to embrace the dice, calculators, and clocks. Don't discourage these interests.

Having said that, if you're interested in finding some more traditional toys or books that might appeal to those number-loving kids, then you'll definitely want to check out the complete hyperlexia gift guide here. You'll find lots of other great suggestions your child will love.

The Best ADHD Picture Books for Kids

Looking for children's books about ADHD? Then you'll love this awesome list of ADHD picture books for kids!

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Every child deserves to see themselves represented in children's literature. And every kind of brain deserves to be understood, whether they're autistic, have sensory processing differences, ADHD, neurotypical, or otherwise neurodivergent.

This list of ADHD picture books is a great way to celebrate neurodivergent experiences and help kids better understand some of their classmates or friends. They're perfect for kids of all ages, whether they're an ADHDer or they jsut want to learn about different kinds of brains.

You're going to love these children's books about ADHD!

The Best ADHD Picture Books for Kids

The following children's books focus on ADHD traits and describing what life with ADHD is like.

Please note that I have personally read and reviewed all of the following books myself and would feel comfortable sharing these books with my own children. The list will be updated as I find new titles to share and include.

1. Wepa: English & Spanish by J de laVega

Written by an ADHDer, this bilingual picture book is excellent, showcasing many strengths of ADHD. Plus, I really love the illustrations (except for all the music notes that are drawn wrong!). The art style is unique, but so fun and inviting. And I really love the character and how she finds a place where her wepa (aka ADHD) can be celebrated. Highly recommend checking this book out.

2. Happy Dreamer by Peter H. Reynolds

I always love Peter's illustrations and books and this one is no exception. This illustrations are fun and magical throughout and I especially love the page with the fireworks and how it contrasts with the rest of the book. It's a really great book that encourages kids to just be themselves. While ADHD is never explicitly mentioned in the text, this book is definitely relatable to those with ADHD.

3. My Wandering Dreaming Mind by Merriam Sarcia Saunders

This children's book features a girl with inattentive ADHD whose mind wanders a lot. It highlights different ADHD strengths and shows how to reframe weaknesses (e.g., distracted = curious or imaginative). I liked how the illustrations showed outlines of things that the girl was seeing or daydreaming about. It's a good book overall.

4. My Whirling, Twirling Motor by Merriam Sarcia Saunders

Like the book above, this one highlights the strengths and positives of hyperactive-impulsive ADHD and shows how to reframe weaknesses (not surprising, given that it's the same author as the book above). It features a boy with ADHD who is always moving and fidgeting. Overall, the book is good and I love the illustrations.

5. Marvelous by Alexandra Hoffman

While this book doesn't explicitly name ADHD in the text, it's clear the boy is an ADHDer. The illustrations are great and I love how the book showcases the strength of creativity that is common in ADHD. It's a good little book.

6. Lost Inside My Head by Vigg

Here's a really good picture book written by an ADHDer, based on their experience. It has lovely and unique illustrations and I especially like the contrast between the illustrations and the two-page spread that lists all the distractions in uppercase letters (those particular pages remind me SO much of my son back in grade one - super relatable). I like the house analogy used throughout (although some kids might get distressed that it skips numbers 5-10 when describing the house).

This picture book is also quite long in terms of length, especially compared to others on this list. And, at times, it felt a bit disjointed or choppy. So I found the story doesn't always flow well, which could have been intentional or it could have been due to translation issues. Due to the length, I think this book is better suited to older kids, but it's definitely worth checking out.

7. My Brain is a Race Car by Nell Harris

I appreciate the simple format of this book and that it doesn't use any big words or acronyms. It uses rhyming text throughout to describe ADHD, while also touching on burnout, coping strategies, and sensory accommodations. Overall, it's a decent little book, especially for kids who like cars.

More Neurodiversity Related Picture Book Recommendations for Kids

While the above list of books focus primarily on ADHD and its traits, perhaps you're looking for something that focuses on a different neurotype or neurodiversity in general. If so, try these book lists:

• The Best Autism Picture Books for Kids - Perfect for introducing autism and its traits to kids of all ages.

• The Best Neurodiversity Books for Kids - Picture books that are perfect for introducing the concept of neurodiversity to kids.

• The Best Sensory Processing Picture Books for Kids - Awesome for learning about sensory processing, sensory overload, and exploring sensory differences.

I hope you enjoyed this list of ADHD picture books. Which one will you be checking out first?