| Have you ever wondered why no matter how you | | | | early so you can have a good rest." Kids and teens |
| bust your mouth giving instructions, your child just does | | | | need to know the rationale behind each and every |
| not seem to hear you? Technically, they do. The | | | | single one of your demands: because you care and |
| trouble is not in your child's aural ability but in how you | | | | love them, and not because you are a horrible monster |
| deliver and relay your instructions to them and how | | | | bent on making their little lives more miserable than it |
| they interpret it. | | | | already is. |
| So how should we parents talk in such a way that we | | | | Speak in a moderate tone. The more a parent raises |
| get the desired results from our kids? | | | | his or her voice at the child, the more resistant the child |
| Talk in positive instructions and not in negative | | | | becomes to the parent's instructions. No matter how |
| instructions. A good example ofa negative instruction is | | | | much we detest the idea, screaming and raising your |
| "Do not play with your food." Children and even us, | | | | voice does nothing but show your kids how much they |
| adults, sometimes, respond better when we are told | | | | have control over you and of the situation. The more |
| what we can do and not what we can not do. Instead, | | | | you become angry and anxious, the more they feel |
| we parents should rephrase it in such a way that it | | | | they are winning the battle. Talking in a moderate tone |
| becomes a concrete and positive instruction for the | | | | tells them you are in control of the situation. Talking in a |
| kids. We can always say, "Eat your food properly the | | | | moderate manner tells them that no amount of whining |
| way Mommy showed you." And since kids learn | | | | or indifference from them can take you over the edge |
| better by example, you won't have to worry about | | | | of your wits. Talking in a moderate, serious, firm but |
| dodging across the table to avoid being hit by your | | | | gentle tone tells them you mean business because |
| child's baby food. Other examples would be, "Do not | | | | you care. |
| stay up too late." Instead, we can always say, "Sleep | | | | |