When your child refuses or digs in their heels, acknowledge what they're doing first, then give a five-minute warning before the transition. Genuine praise for their activity makes them more likely to cooperate than a direct command.
Instead of, 'Right darling, come on, time to stop that now, it's dinner time, okay? Stop that now, stop that now,' which usually gets this response: 'No, go away, leave me alone, I don't want to.' Try these two methods. Firstly, engage with what they're doing. 'Hey darling, you've been playing so quietly for ages. I love to see how you're using your imagination.' then issue a warning. 'In 5 minutes, it's going to be time for— guess what you think it's going to be time for? Oh yeah, it is. It's going to be time for dinner.' I really get that parenting positively and with a compassionate approach is not always easy, and that's why I love to show parents all the tools and tips that I've learned raising my 4 children and working with parents all these years. So have a look below and get some more ideas.
