Communication Tips to get your Child to Cooperate
For most of us life is incredibly busy and whilst we have good intentions about reading that book, or attending that parenting course, we simply can’t find the time. Parenting is often portrayed as a fine art and yet in many ways, uncomplicated pragmatic action can make such a difference.
I find the best way to test out an idea is to play with it. See if these ideas resonate with you, have a go and observe what happens.
Paint Pictures in Children’s Minds
Keep praise simple and descriptive and children can visualise what you want.
Say ‘Michael, you put your shoes and coat on when I asked, thank you’.
This is so much clearer than a general ‘Well done’ and means your child has really clear idea about how to succeed next time.
Use Your Child’s Name and Keep it Simple
‘Michael, shoes and coat on, thank you’ (or please if you prefer).
This prevents a child from being overloaded with information and makes success so much easier, particularly if following instructions or processing verbal information is a challenge.
Stay Close and Say Your Child’s Name
How often do we find ourselves yelling instructions from another room which sound a bit like this?
‘Hurry up! Get your stuff together (general not specific) come on, come on, we are going to be late and then they’ll give us a hard time at school again, you always do this to me…’. However, if we go into the room, make eye contact (Only if your child is comfortable with this) say their name and your instruction clearly and calmly the outcome is usually positive.
It makes a real difference when we are clear, calm and close.
Why not Take a Team SKY Approach?
Team SKY cycle team are a wonderful example of how small adjustments create marginal gains that can ripple out to huge effect – Have fun, play with some of these ideas, maybe try one at a time – I’d love to hear how you get on!