Our lives are so busy sometimes we are just trying to make it though the day as efficiently as possible. We just want everyone in our family to "do it our way" and save time. Isn't that the truth? We'd just like a little obedience for once!
After I learned a few L&L skills I came to realize that I'd actually get more cooperation and get more done if I'd just let my kids CHOOSE something. A lot of the time the choices that I gave (always ones I liked) didn't even matter and things went more smoothly. Isn't that weird?
I asked my son last night if he'd like to go to the Mall at 1pm tomorrow or at 4pm. It worked! He picked 1pm.
An L&L mom was having trouble getting her son to bed so she asked him if he'd like to go to bed at 8pm or 8:30. It worked! He picked 10:30.
A dad was having trouble getting his daughter to pick what she wanted for breakfast so he decided to let her choose between waffles and Cheerios. It worked! Cheerios where delicious that morning (he did nicely use "and what did I say..." when she asked for something else).
Another parent was worried one morning that her daughter would be hungry if she didn't take a snack for after school before her school sports started as soon as classes were done for the day. She offered a power bar or cookies. It worked! Power bar won!
All of these parents noticed that a lot less whining and resistance was received and THEY SAVED TIME as a result.
What could work for you to save you time? Think about choices!
After I learned a few L&L skills I came to realize that I'd actually get more cooperation and get more done if I'd just let my kids CHOOSE something. A lot of the time the choices that I gave (always ones I liked) didn't even matter and things went more smoothly. Isn't that weird?
I asked my son last night if he'd like to go to the Mall at 1pm tomorrow or at 4pm. It worked! He picked 1pm.
An L&L mom was having trouble getting her son to bed so she asked him if he'd like to go to bed at 8pm or 8:30. It worked! He picked 10:30.
A dad was having trouble getting his daughter to pick what she wanted for breakfast so he decided to let her choose between waffles and Cheerios. It worked! Cheerios where delicious that morning (he did nicely use "and what did I say..." when she asked for something else).
Another parent was worried one morning that her daughter would be hungry if she didn't take a snack for after school before her school sports started as soon as classes were done for the day. She offered a power bar or cookies. It worked! Power bar won!
All of these parents noticed that a lot less whining and resistance was received and THEY SAVED TIME as a result.
What could work for you to save you time? Think about choices!