13. They Just Won't Listen

One of the biggest questions on young parents’ minds has got to be just HOW do you get your kids to listen. You could be trying to get them to do the simplest task or impress just how important it is for you to get out the door in the morning but they just. Don’t. Get it. Turns out that a lot of things are at play in a toddler’s mind, chief among them the fact that their executive functioning isn’t really that developed yet. So what we think are clear and direct instructions might be passing between their ears in a completely jumbled order that doesn’t make sense to them. In this episode, Jamie explains why it’s so essential for us to slow the hell down when talking to our kids and gives you a clearer idea of just how children listen so you know which buttons NOT to press when trying to get their attention. The Finer Details of This Episode: The surprising length of time it can take children’s little brains to actually process the words you’re saying. Trying to teach your toddler too many words at once can actually overload them—and interrupting them doesn’t help either. How visualizing what you’re saying a physical flow reaching your child’s ears will allow you to better understand how they listen. Why slowing down your morning routine is so necessary to getting your toddler to follow instructions. Maintaining eye contact: key to getting your rowdy little kid to understand you. The trick to rousing your toddler from deep play without pissing them off. Practise slowing and breaking things down to make it easier to communicate with your kid.   Quotes: “We’re not born with these skills, you guys; we develop them!” “You have to slow down.” “You have to control the things you can—being rushed in the morning is one of them.” “It’s not just that they’re slow, it’s that they’re gonna need your help along the way. “You’re gonna get a much better reaction if you make eye contact.” Links: Jamie’s homepage - http://www.jamieglowacki.com/ Oh Crap! Potty Training - https://www.amazon.com/Crap-Potty-Training-Everything-Parenting-ebook/dp/B00V3L8YSU Oh Crap! I Have A Toddler [Get my new book] - https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Oh-Crap!-I-Have-a-Toddler/Jamie-Glowacki/Oh-Crap-Parenting/9781982109738 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices