The Psychiatric Technician is giving instructions to a 12 year-old developmentally disabled client. Which of the following instructions will be most likely to produce the desired effect?

• A. Color the flower blue.
• B. Don't talk during class.
• C. Don't squirm in your seat.
• D. Don't think about your actions before you do anything.

Answer: (A)

Focusing on concrete, doable tasks with clear, observable outcomes is most effective for a 12-year-old with developmental disabilities. The instruction to color the flower blue provides a simple, specific action the client can perform right away and see the result. It communicates exactly what is expected without requiring abstract thinking or self-control beyond the task itself, making compliance more likely and reducing confusion or frustration.

In contrast, the other instructions rely on self-control, abstract thinking, or prohibition. Telling someone not to talk during class is a negative rule that doesn’t give a concrete behavior to replace the talking with, and may be hard to apply if communication or social cues are challenging. Asking not to squirm focuses on suppressing a behavior rather than guiding a constructive alternative, and can be difficult for someone with sensory or motor needs. Telling someone not to think about their actions before acting asks them to control internal thought processes, which is abstract and not a practical, observable instruction for a developmentally disabled child.

So the coloring task is the most likely to produce the desired effect because it translates instruction into a simple, concrete activity with an immediate, measurable outcome.