Parenting Tip
A common complaint I hear from parents is that they often have to ask their child multiple times, maybe even to the point of shouting, before their child cooperates.
Professor Matt Sanders, author of the Triple P programme suggests following these steps.
- Stop what you are doing and move to within an arm's length of your child.
- bend down to their eye level, say their name and tell them EXACTLY what it is you want them to do.
- Wait for them to process that and respond - five seconds is enough (10 seconds for neuro diverse)
- if your child does as asked, praise them.
- if your child does not do as asked, repeat the request once more then back it up with a logical consequence if you are ignored.
- children respond better when parents act immediately, consistently and decisively so don't ask five or six times!
