We all know this and we’ve all heard it before, but this is the most important part of discipline: follow through.
If you say “Please put your shoes on, it’s time to get going” and your child doesn’t do it, gently guide your child by the hand to the shoes and help her put them on.
If you say “We need to put the blocks away in five minutes,” set a timer for five minutes and come help the child, or encourage the child to put the blocks away when the timer goes off.
DO NOT give a child a direction to follow and then walk away and get tied up in something else. This is Parenting 101.
If you find yourself often frustrated because your child doesn’t follow directions, check to make sure you are following through and sending your child the message that you mean what you say. You are not only ensuring a more peaceful and enjoyable environment with your child, you are teaching your child integrity and building a meaningful relationship between you. This will go miles when your child is a teenager. What you do today DOES impact who your child will become and the kind of relationship you’ll have in the future.