Choice
Both of the boys can nowadays be quite contrary. They say “no” for the sake of saying “no” even if they really want to say “yes”. While up in DFW for Thanksgiving my Mother told me about a trick that she learned a while back that works really well in that when a toddler is being defiant, you rephrase what you want them to do into a choice. Once the boys and I got back home from our Thanksgivng trip I tried this technique out and it totally worked with Logan (but not so much with Forest).
At dinner time the day after we got back Logan did not want to get into his chair to eat. He was just saying “no” over and over and would throw a fit if I tried to pick him up or anything, so instead of telling him to get in his chair to eat, I asked him “Do you want to get in your chair with a spoon or do you want to get in your chair with a fork?” He looked at me and said “Spoon!” So then I asked “Do you want a red spoon or do you want a blue spoon?” By the time he answered “Blue!” he had climbed up into his chair and was ready to eat.
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Comments
This is actually an NLP technique called a “presupposition”. Its a great technique to use on kids. It gives the illusion of choice by framing it within forced decision.
It’s kind of like saying “so do we meet friday night at 7 or 8″ without me actually asking if we can meet. You can get pretty creative with presupposition. The goal is to make it look like someone has a choice when in reality you are forcing a decision within the bounds you are setting up in the frame.
ahhhh… your jedi mind tricks are strong!!! may the force be with you and may i remember this when it’s Grifin’s turn…lol!
That’s awesome!
Mind hacks are cool, and great for kids!