Near or Far Worksheet: Following Instructions for Preschoolers
Reading an instruction and circling the object that is either near or far teaches children ages 3-5 relative distance vocabulary, helping them understand that 'near' and 'far' describe a relationship between two things rather than a fixed property of a single object. Following a written or spoken instruction to complete each picture also builds listening comprehension and the ability to carry out a one-step direction independently. This combination of spatial concept and instruction-following prepares children for the kind of directions they'll regularly encounter in a classroom setting.
Part of the pack
Month 1: Learning & Development | Ages 6-7Curriculum
How to use this worksheet
Read the instruction for the first picture aloud together, telling your child whether to circle the object that is near or the one that is far. Look at the picture together and ask your child to point out which object fits that description before circling it. Move to the next picture, changing between near and far instructions, and repeat the process, encouraging your child to reread or listen again if they're unsure. Once the page is finished, review the choices together and ask your child to explain why each object was near or far.
Materials needed
- Pencil
- Crayons
Extension activities
- •Place two toys at different distances from your child and ask them to identify which one is near and which is far.
- •Play a game outside where you call out 'go near the tree' or 'go far from the tree' and your child follows the direction.
- •Look out a window together and describe objects as being near or far from the house.
- •Draw a picture with one object placed near and another placed far, then label each one.
- •Practice giving your child simple two-step instructions that include a near or far direction, like 'put the ball near the door.'
Tips for parents and teachers
If your child circles the wrong object, use gestures, stretching your arms out for far and bringing your hands close together for near, to make the abstract concept more physical and memorable. Near and far can be confusing because they depend on a reference point that changes with every picture, so encourage your child to always ask 'near or far from what?' Following the written instruction correctly is its own skill worth praising, separate from whether the final answer about distance is exactly right.
Written by
Hemsweta Jain · Teacher Cheena
MBA and Early Childhood Educator, teaching since 2014 · Founder of RaisoActive, Mumbai
Every RaisoActive worksheet is designed and checked by the founder before publishing.
Published · Last reviewed
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