Tell Them What YOU Will Do Challenge 2
Last month, I talked about and challenged you to Tell Your Children What To Do. Now, what do you do when your child still doesn’t listen (gasp, does this happen in every home?)? That is when this strategy comes in handy! 😉
Telling your children what YOU will do is a technique of
and many other parenting strategies. Using this strategy properly will put the responsibility on the child and not turn you into the bad guy.
Examples
I will pick up the toys that are left on the ground in 10 minutes, instead of, go clean your room.
The car will be backing out of the driveway at 7:30, instead of hounding your children to get ready for school.
I will read a book to kids who have correctly finished their chores in 15 minutes, instead of hounding them to do their chores.
I will play a game with kids who listen the first time.
I will be leaving to get ice cream in 10 minutes, kids with complete homework are welcome to join me.
Tips
- hold true to your word and follow through, this may require a backup plan/babysitter
- be consistent
- don’t get angry
- don’t nag
- don’t lecture
[amazon_enhanced asin=”1576839540″ /] [amazon_enhanced asin=”1930429002″ /] [amazon_enhanced asin=”1930429045″ /]
Challenge
Week 1: Think of a situation that frustrates you, is there a way to transfer the responsibility onto your child? Just brainstorm this week. Feel free to comment/brainstorm below!
Week 2: How did last week go? Did you come up with some good ideas? This week, implement 1-2 of your ideas. When those situations arrive, take a deep breath, try to relax and calmly tell them what you will do. (Ex: I will be driving the car out of the driveway at 7:15 to take those who are ready to school; I will be picking up and selling/throwing away the toys that are left on the floor in 15 minutes; I will be doing laundry in 20 minutes, I will wash the clothes that are correctly sorted in the laundry room.) Then you need to follow through (if they aren’t ready for school, it’s then their responsibility to figure out how to get their safely; pick up the toys and put them where they cannot get to them; do the laundry and if they don’t have clean clothes, then it’s their responsibility to figure out what to wear).
Comments
The only L&L phrase I use consistently is “I listen to nice voices.” While this is effective in getting my child to repeat their words in a tolerable tone/volume, it has not caused my children to give up their whiny/irritating voices in the first place. Any suggestions?
I like the L&L phrases you have listed above, although I wonder if your children are old enough to care if their clothes are clean or dirty. At least, mine wouldn’t, except for my teenage “appearance is everything” daughter. Do you kids really not want to wear dirty clothes enough to take them to the laundry room? I’m impressed. No, I don’t let my kids wear dirty clothes, I’m just mean and require all dirty clothes to be brought to the laundry room on Friday afternoons. I need to find a L&L solution to this. Thanks for the post!