Getting Toddlers to Listen

If you want a child to listen, don't talk very much. Say things once
and then act.

Get the child's attention. Get on the child's level, touch his arm,
make eye contact.
Give the child time to comply. Wait a few minutes before you go
to them and act.
Acknowledge the child's feelings. "You don't want to come in right
now."
Give them warnings of transitions.
Use objective measures of time, like timers or the next event.
"When you finish the drawing, we need to leave." "When the timer
rings, it will be time to get your shoes on."
Give them acceptable choices. "Do you want milk or juice?"
"Do you want to play with the playdough or the blocks when we
go in?"
State your rules in positive ways. Tell them what they can do,
not what they can't do. "You can walk or crawl or bump down
the stairs."
Use when, then statements. "When we get to the grocery store,
then you can help load the cart" "When you finish two more times
on the slide, then we will say goodbye to the park and go home."

Stay calm even when your child is not calm.
Teach your child how to handle emotions through stories and role
playing and drawing.

toypup...

A lot of it is good advice, but I think some toddlers listen much better
than others just naturally. DD listened even as an infant crawler. DS
didn't listen very well as a toddler, but he's very good now that he's
matured into a preschooler. I used to wonder how people did it, but then I
had DD and I understood they must have just had a child like her. If they
don't listen as toddlers, it doesn't mean it will always be that way. I
used a lot of your strategies and they do help, but maturing helps more than

Welches...

I agree. #1 would listen to a full wedding service at 10 months, and always
has listened that well since. #2 wants to go off and play by the time 5
minutes are up.
Debbie

anything.