One of the most crucial keys to minimizing problem behavior is ensuring that children have become the message you’re trying to ship. In relation to parenting, every now and then the way instructions are given may be simply as critical as what you’re seeking to communicate.

Here are approaches to give information on your children to make it more likely that they’ll hear you, and comply:

Be direct

Make statements in place of asking questions: “Please sit down,” as opposed to “Are you ready to get out your homework?”

Be close

Give commands whilst you are near the kid, as opposed to calling out from across the room.

Use clear and specific commands

In preference to “cross in advance,” say, “Please pass begin your analyzing venture.”

Give age-appropriate instructions

Speak to your child at a level he will understand. If your child is younger, keep things simple and use words you know he knows: “Please pick up the ball.” With older children, who are so often keenly aware of not being “babies anymore” it’s important to be clear without being patronizing.

Give instructions one at a time

In particular for kids who’ve attention challenges, attempt to keep away from giving a series of commands: “Please placed on your footwear, get your lunch off the kitchen counter, and meet me within the front hall.

Keep explanations simple

Giving a rationale can increase the likelihood children will listen to a command, but not if the commands gets lost in it. For instance: “Go get your coat on because it’s raining and I don’t want you to catch a cold.” Instead, try: “It’s raining and I don’t want you to catch a cold. Go get your coat on.”

Give kids time to process

After you give an instruction, wait a few seconds, without repeating what you said. Children then learn to listen to calm instructions given once rather than learning that they don’t need to listen because the instructions will be repeated. Watching and waiting also helps keep adults from doing what we’ve requested of our kids for them.