Making your child listen to you might seem the most difficult task on this planet, though it is not. With a little tact and understanding you can make this difficult task easy. Don’t forget that at the tender age they are, it is not easy for them to focus attention on the numerous and varied things scattered all around. Moreover, shouting at your child will only lead to frustration, without yielding any result. On the contrary, try and understand your child. Be patient and teach him how to be a good listener via different activities. It is never too late to teach your toddler how to listen. In order to make you understand the situation better, given below are some tips.
Getting Your Toddler to Listen to You
- Get to her level- If you shout at your child from a height, it’s definitely not going to work. Crouch down or pick up your child to make eye contact and grab his attention.
- Be clear- Convey your message clearly, simply and authoritatively. Do not go about telling a long story; rather keep it short and to the point.
- Follow through quickly- Make sure you mean what you say, without giving him any threats. Guide your child to do exactly what you expect him to do.
- Reinforce your message- Reinforce your message with other activities to indicate what exactly you want to say.
- Give warnings- Give warnings to your child before making a big change, to prepare him for the same.
- Give realistic instructions- Convey your message in a subtle and playful manner to coax the child to listen to you. Do it step by step.
- Motivate- Rather than yelling at your child, talk to him in a good humor way. Give him the message using silly voices and tunes. Don’t forget to praise him after the task is done. You can even appreciate him by giving a big smile or hug. This makes the child feel that his action was worthwhile.
- Model good behavior- To make your child listen to you; make it a point you do the same. Be a patient listener to set a good example before him.
