TALK SO YOU'RE HEARD!

Feel like your child just doesn’t listen to you? There are some techniques you can use to improve your chances of getting through.

- NIA VISAGIE

LOCK EYES

This is the most important tip of all to ensure that you are really heard. Make and maintain eye contact. How? Crouch down on your haunches to ensure you’re at toddler height, so you can look your little one straight in the eye. Once you’ve locked eyes, keep what you want to say really short. This isn’t the time for a long, involved conversation. Keep your sentences short and the vocabulary accessible. “Stop pulling the dog’s ears. It hurts. The dogmight bite you.”

And when your child has a great need to share something with you, the same applies. Get down to his height and listen with your full attention.

ONE SENTENCE AT A TIME

Have you noticed how selectively toddlers can hear? (Some say they get that from Dad…) The more words and sentences you throw their way, the less they’ll take in. To your little one it just sounds like a noise, and she’ll easily shut her ears to it. So keep the message short and simple. No speeches. You don’t have to give reasons. Simply say: “Leave the dog alone.” After your child has obeyed the instruction, you can explain a bit more and give your reasons.

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