Children can be affectionate, adorable, intelligent and absolutely fun to be with! But try getting kids to listen to you or carry out simple tasks, then watch them suddenly develop a severe case of deafness! You may want your child to get ready for bed or pick up his scattered toys or simply eat his food but he will simply sit there and pretend not to hear you! The end result is always the same: irritated parents who resort to shouting or blatant threats to get the work done!

Disciplining your children: getting kids to listen to you the right way!

Being a parent is not easy especially if you are holding down a job, cooking and cleaning for a family. Tempers will inevitably run short when children do not cooperate with basic tasks like cleaning their own rooms. Frankly, children cannot be pushed to do something they don’t want to. If you have a toddler, then you know how a typically stressful situation will develop. Your child may not like to eat veggies (which child does?), you push to get him to eat and it results in a shouting match with your toddler having a temper tantrum and you looking like a fool. Ultimately the veggies get thrown out! Children are learning to get independent and every request will inevitably be met with a return query. Getting kids to listen to sharp commands like “eat your vegetables or else” will just get them into a power struggle where no one wins! The most common response you will get with that command will be, “but I don’t like veggies,” or something like “why do I have to?”

Getting kids to listen to you: hints and tips!

One simple way of getting kids to listen is if you use statements that tell your child what you will do instead of what you want them to do. Explaining the process is as simple as linking a good treat with an essential chore. For example, imagine the reaction when you use positive comments like “I would love to give you the chocolate cake I have ready once you’ve finished your vegetables” This is a great way to set limits as well as provide rewards without looking like a fool. The veggies get eaten along with a slice of chocolate cake and both of you are happy! A win-win situation for everyone concerned!

Getting kids to listen with enforceable comments!

Using enforceable (positive) comments like these make your child feel independent and partly in command of the situation. And of course, it saves you from looking like a nagging harpy! Getting kids to listen to you will be easier and less stressful on everyone involved in the process. Your kids know what to expect from you if they accomplish the task and it cuts down on a lot of the arguing.

>