And yesterday I had to fake it. I feel a bit more on my A game today. WOO!

Today, that is.

To get a preschooler to listen, you have to interrupt whatever they’re doing – take away the toy, TV, etc. That will get their attention, as they’ll whine they want it back. Then, you say what you want, and explain if they want to continue, they need to listen.

With Jack, most of the not listening happens around dinner and bedtime. So, we say, “Boys who can’t listen don’t get stories”. We then take away one bedtime story for every egregious listening error. (He starts with 5.) This might work with BB because I know he loves books.

In very important situations, I’ll make him repeat what I say. I’ll hold his hands to stop him from leaving until he can tell me what I said. Not exactly, of course, but the gist of it. That works rather well, but it is time consuming.

You are right about the “some continue ignoring” and “some grow out of it.” My youngest and oldest are very challenging, argue every point, want their own way all the time, and ignore me. Timeouts at the younger ages and losing things they love for the older ages are effective methods of discipline. But, here’s the thing their stubbornness is actually a plus in school. Both are high achievers.

My middle child is the exact opposite. Listens, always follows directions, but she can be a little sneaky. I often don’t notice that she is doing what I have told her not to do since she generally listens.

Motherhood is hard…always need to bring your A game or at least fake it!

Musings from Mes last blog post..Wednesdays R Us: No Photo, Just Griping

Often, he can’t tell me what I said. He’s too busy thinking about what HE wants to say or what he was doing before I stopped him. So we repeat until he can properly tell me what it was that I want him to hear. It’s so frustrating. Though it’s sorta funny when he says something along these lines: “It’s a hula hoop. Say hula hoop, mama.”

In order to really force Jake to listen, we get down on eye level, touch him (either on the hand or both our hands on his shoulders/elbows) and then speak, using the monotone, firm voice. Look him in the eye, ask if he’s listening and then ask for affirmation that he heard whatever x,y,z order was just given.

Frustrating and time consuming, yes, but it eliminates the intentional or unintentional ignroing that goes on. Don’t know if it would work for you, but works for us.

And yeah, frustrating!

Nikki Jos last blog post..Candid Smiles: Love Thursday

Katie in MAs last blog post..Idle hands.