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family<br />
38 wellness<br />
Ways To Get Your Kids<br />
To Listen<br />
Every parent has been there.<br />
You’ve asked your child to do<br />
something for the millionth time<br />
that day yet they still show no<br />
signs of listening. Whether it’s<br />
tidying their room, doing their<br />
homework, or simply putting<br />
on their shoes; kids have an<br />
uncanny knack for failing to hear<br />
the simplest instructions.<br />
It’s frustrating. And it explains<br />
why so many parents resort to<br />
shouting. It can often seem like<br />
the only solution when you’ve<br />
said the same thing time and<br />
time again without effect. So how<br />
can you get kids to listen without<br />
yelling?<br />
Set a good example<br />
Children learn from watching<br />
how adults behave so it’s<br />
important to set a good example.<br />
Always give them your full<br />
attention when they are talking<br />
so they learn the importance<br />
of listening when people are<br />
talking.<br />
Give clear<br />
instructions<br />
For younger children, it’s<br />
important to keep things simple.<br />
Quite often adults fall into the<br />
trap of rattling off an endless list<br />
of instructions “Find your shoes,<br />
then get your jacket, where’s<br />
your school bag? Have you<br />
brushed your teeth?” Hearing<br />
a constant monologue<br />
can cause kids to switch<br />
off which is why they<br />
often appear not to be<br />
listening. The solution is<br />
to simply give one clear<br />
instruction at a time.<br />
Remove<br />
distractions<br />
If you’re asking<br />
your kids to do<br />
something while<br />
they are busy playing<br />
a computer game or<br />
watching TV, the challenge<br />
is doubly difficult. Try<br />
removing technology at<br />
key times during the day<br />
so that you don’t have to<br />
compete. For example, you<br />
could have a rule that there<br />
is no television until after<br />
homework is completed<br />
or no computer games in<br />
the morning when you’re<br />
trying to get ready to<br />
leave the house.<br />
yourwellness.com • Volume VII • Issue III • <strong>August</strong> <strong>2018</strong>