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Soon after your child learns to walk, you’ll realize that they have a will of their own. Many parents struggle with getting their child to listen to them. We’re sure you’ve been in a situation where your child doesn’t want to eat vegetables, pick up their toys, or do their chores. And all your attempts to try and make them do the right things end up in screaming and tears, so neither the children nor the parents feel good in the end. But what the kids don’t get is that parents don’t like conflict either. Screaming at your children never feels good, especially if it doesn’t yield the results you want anyway. So, how do you get the kids to do what you’d like in a peaceful manner? Read on to find out!
1. How To Get Your Child To Eat Healthier
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We all know that your child would chow down chocolate bars for breakfast, lunch and dinner if given the chance. And although some of that is because chocolate is delectable, it’s also because they view it as a treat or “fun” food. The second you make a certain food a reward, the appeal increases exponentially. You can do this with healthy food too. The next time your child does something wrong, tell them that they won’t be able to eat their afternoon salad. This will help them cherish their salads as they associate it with a food that is delicious enough to be a real treat. This is also a great way to get your child to munch on some veggies without them creating a fuss. It’s okay to make healthy food enjoyable for your kid. So experiment with it and throw in some ingredients that they like into the salad to make it more appealing.
2. Color Coordinate Their Tasks And Keep Track Of Time
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As odd as this may seem to you, making your kids do tasks by color or shape actually simplifies it and makes it more engaging for them. Take putting the toys away for example. We all come back home to a messy house with toys littering the floor. Tell your kids you’re setting a timer and that they have 5 minutes to pick up and put away everything that’s the color red into the basket. Then do this with green, blue and any other color you see. Now you have a spotless house in under 15 minutes. Keep in mind that kids also respond better to tasks with a set time limit. So don’t be afraid to set a timer whenever you need something done quickly without any procrastination or fussing.
You can also challenge them to beat how long it took them to clean up last time. Keep time stamps on a chart. This way you can play a game. Everytime they set a new record for folding clothes, doing the dishes or mowing the lawn, they get a small treat or a gold star on the chart. This is also a great motivator for the kids.
3. Let Your Child “Keep You Safe”
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If you’ve ever been out with a curious little toddler who’s always running off and hard to get a hold of, this little trick is for you. Kids may not always take their own safety seriously, after all, they don’t really understand the danger of crossing a road without you beside them or talking to a stranger. But your child knows you and can sense a shift in emotions. If you tell them that you are scared and need them to stay with you, in order to keep you safe, they are more inclined to stay by your side. You can ask them to hold your hand so that no one else takes you away or to refrain from talking to someone else because you are not comfortable. All of a sudden you’ve got yourself a bodyguard who won’t venture more than 2 feet away from you. Success!
4. Give Them A Choice
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Children, like adults, often don’t like to be told what to do. They work better when they feel like they have a say in what they get to do. So instead of telling them to do the dishes, which will be met by moaning and complaining, give them a choice. Ask them to choose between doing the dishes or doing the laundry. This way they are more involved as it is their choice. Soon you’ll see that your child has completed the task without you having to nag them all day. A little bit of autonomy will do the trick!
Raising kids is never easy, especially when you’ve got a million other things to juggle. Sometimes it helps to have a couple of tricks under your sleeve to get your kids to work in a peaceful manner. So, would you use these tricks on your kids to get them to do things in a peaceful manner? Let us know in the comments section!
