When your child refuses a request, start by joining what they're doing and praising it, then give a five-minute warning before the transition. This approach replaces harsh commands with empathy and clear expectations, making kids more likely to cooperate.
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.
