If you find that you always need to raise your voice or ask over and over again before your toddler will listen to you, it might be because you've actually trained them to do it. To change this behavior, you need to provide consequences for not listening the first time, give your full attention, ensure your toddler is fully present, use short and clear instructions, avoid phrasing requests as questions, tell them what to expect, model desired behavior, and apply consequences consistently.
⏱️: Toddler ignores requests until you raise your voice and ask multiple times.
⏱️: Consequences need to happen the first time they don't listen.
⏱️: Give your toddler your full attention when asking them to do something.
⏱️: Ensure your toddler is fully present and eliminate distractions.
⏱️: Give short and clear instructions, avoiding telling them what not to do.
⏱️: Avoid phrasing instructions as questions to prevent the option to say no.
⏱️: Help your toddler feel in control by telling them what's going to happen next.
Key Insights
- 🔑 Consistency is key: Following through with consequences and instructions consistently is crucial for your toddler to understand and respond the first time.
- 🔑 Full attention matters: Giving your toddler your full attention when asking them to do something helps establish clear communication and shows the importance of their response.
- 🔑 Clear instructions promote understanding: Using short and clear instructions, focusing on what you want them to do rather than what you don't want them to do, helps toddlers understand and follow through.
- 🔑 Setting expectations reduces resistance: Informing your toddler about what they can expect and linking non-desirable activities with enjoyable ones helps reduce resistance and increase compliance.
- 🔑 Modeling behavior enhances understanding: Modeling the desired behavior helps toddlers understand what is expected of them and encourages them to imitate and follow suit.
- 🔑 Consequences reinforce learning: Applying consequences when toddlers don't follow through with instructions reinforces the importance of compliance and helps shape their behavior over time.
- 🔑 Patience and consistency lead to positive results: Although initially challenging, being patient, consistent, and following all the steps will eventually lead to a toddler who responds the first time and reduces the need for yelling.
