[18 mths +] A child will always be more compliant, if they understand WHY.
So don’t wait for your children to ask (especially if they’re too young to know how to), but give them the answer.
Instead of just:
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‘close the door’, offer ‘flies will come in, bzz bzz, no no!’
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‘don’t touch that’, offer ‘it’s not ours’ or ‘we don’t need that today’ or ‘just for grown ups, it might break’ etc
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‘sit down’, offer ‘on your bottom, no falling….OWWW!’
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‘get your shoes on’, offer ‘no standing on rocks & hurt your feet…OWW’ or ‘the other kids will all have shoes on, protecting their feet….’
When you explain WHY at the same time you give the direction, you will literally see brains tick over…and hopefully see why you’re asking them to do so. The catch is, make sure you’ve used words that your child will understand for their age!
