A caregiver models how to respond when a child rejects a gift, moving past calling them ungrateful. Instead of punishment, ask what's really going on: fear of falling, worry about learning to ride, something else. The child's resistance usually means something specific, not ingratitude.
I've got a great idea, darling. Let's take your bike and go to the park and have a nice time. I hate my bike and I don't want to go to the park! Instead of: What do you mean you don't like your bike? I've just bought it for you and it was very expensive. That's very ungrateful. I don't like to hear things like that. Try the compassionate approach. Oh darling, That's funny because you were really excited when you first got the bike and now you're saying that you don't want to go for a bike ride and you don't want to go to the park. I wonder what that's about. Maybe you're finding learning to ride a bike difficult and you're worried that you're going to fall off? Speaking to children in that way helps you find out what's really driving their behaviour I know it's not easy, and that's why I love to help, so look below and find out how.
