UnHeard... Part 2

But How Do I Get My Kid to LISTEN?!


By: Dr. Laura Markham

One of the most common questions I hear from parents is:   How can I get my kid to LISTEN to me? 

Kids have a lot on their minds, from the history test to the soccer tryouts to the newest computer game.  Not to mention that by the time they’re tweens they’re swamped with hormones, and checking themselves out in every mirror they pass.  Parents can be dismally low on their list.  Even toddlers are very busy, as long as they've been raised without technology so they know how to occupy themselves.  They simply have different priorities, and they don't understand at all why it is so important to take their bath right this minute!

Of course, the parents who ask me this aren't really talking about listening.  They're talking about how to get their child to take in what they say--and take action!  Here's how…



1. Don't start talking until you have your child's attention.  Connect BEFORE you start speaking.  That means you can't bark orders from across the room and expect to get through. 

Instead, move in close. Get down on your child's level and touch him lightly.  Observe what he's doing and connect with him by making a comment about it: "Wow, look at that train go!"  You aren't manipulating, you're acknowledging respect for his activities, too. 

Wait until he looks up.  Look him in the eye.  Then start talking.   If he doesn't look up, make sure you have his attention by asking "Can I tell you something?"  When he says yes, then start talking. 

(Don't be surprised when your child begins using this technique to get your attention before he tells you something.  And if you want him to keep listening, you'll need to listen back!)



2. Don't repeat yourself.  If you've asked once and not gotten a response, don't just repeat yourself.  You don't have your child's attention.  Go back to Step One, above.

3. Use fewer words.  Most of us dilute our message and lose our child's attention by using too many words.  Use as few words as possible when you give instructions.



4. See it from his point of view.  If you were busy with something you liked doing and your spouse ordered you to stop doing it and do something else that was not a priority to you, how would you feel?  Might you tune out your spouse?  Your child doesn't have to share your priorities, he just has to accommodate your needs.  And you don't have to share his priorities, but it will help immensely if you can acknowledge how much he wants to keep doing whatever he's doing. "I know it's hard to stop playing now, Honey.  But I need you to....."

5. Engage cooperation.   No one wants to listen to someone who's giving orders; in fact, it always stimulates resistance.  Think about how you feel when someone orders you around.  Instead, keep your tone warm and give choices.  "It's bath time, Sweetie.  Do you want to go now or in five minutes?  Ok, five minutes with no fuss?  Let's shake on it."

6. Stay calm. When we're emotional, kids get distracted by our emotion and go into fight or flight, blaming us or each other.  They become LESS effective at listening, and lose sight of our message.  If your priority is getting everyone in the car, don't waste time and energy lecturing them about why they didn't listen to you and get ready when you first asked.  That will just make everyone more upset, including you.  Take a deep breath, help her find her shoe and help him on with his backpack.  Once you're in the car, you can ask them to help you brainstorm ways to get out of the house on time.




7. Set up routines. Most of parents' communication to kids consists of nagging.  No wonder they don't listen.  The more routines you have, the less you have to be a drill sergeant.  What kinds of routines?  Habits, like what the kids do  before they leave the house (brush teeth, use toilet, pack backpack, put on shoes, etc.) If you take photos of your child doing these tasks and put them onto a small poster, your child will learn them over time.  She'll have  a new skill and your role will be limited to asking questions:  "What else do you have to do before you leave the house? Let's check your schedule."

8. Listen. If you stare at your computer screen or review your shopping list while your child tells you about his day, you're role modeling how communication is handled in your house.  If you really want your child to listen to you, listen to him.  Just stop what you're doing and listen.  It only takes a few minutes.  Do this when he's a preschooler and he'll still be willing to talk to you when he's a teenager.  You'll be so glad you did.

9. Watch for understanding.  Most of the time when kids don't "listen" they just haven't tuned in to us.  But if your child repeatedly seems unable to process your instructions, she may have an auditory processing disorder. Adopt the tips above and experiment with giving your child multi-step instructions.  If you're concerned, consult with your pediatrician for referral to an audiologist.

10. Pare down your orders to what's really non-negotiable.  If you worked for someone who constantly badgered you with orders, would you feel like cooperating?  You don't want every interaction with your child to be an order.  So maximize the loving, happy interactions, and minimize the orders.

I hope that Part 2 of my series UnHeard has shed some light on how to speak to your children and be heard. I found this article on Aha!Parenting.com and I think it has opened my eyes to several things I have been doing wrong when speaking to Rowyn.  Much love, Bridget