Listening to and following directions... This is a skill that I know I will be working on for a longgggg time. I know this because being a teacher you work on this skill EVERY DAY with EVERY CHILD!
One thing that I used to do with children in my room was to have them do it over until they followed each step correctly. Walk to the backpacks, get your lunch, walk to your seat, and show me you are ready to leave. (child runs to backpacks) Nope now walk back over here... ok now WALK to your backpack, now get your lunch. (child follows directions this time) Thank you now walk to your seat. (child runs to seat) Nope now walk back to your backpack and WALK to your seat. (child follows directions this time) Thank you now show me you are ready to line up for lunch.
At the beginning of the year I would have to do this daily with a handful of children every year, every step, until they realized... hey she wants me to walk... DUHHHH!
I've started doing little things like this with Blake already. The other day he pulled some paper plates out of the trash can (granted his father had them sticking out the top, but still). He proceeded to throw the plates on the floor.
Mommy: Blake pick up the plates please.
Blake... picks up the plates
Mommy: Thank you, Now put them in the trash.
Blake... throws them on the floor
Mommy: Blake please pick up the plates again
Blake... picks up the plates
Mommy: Thank you, Now please put them in the trash
Blake... throws them on the floor
Mommy: Please pick up the plates again
Blake... picks up the plates
Mommy: Thank you for picking up the plates. Now throw them away in the trash please
Blake.. puts them in the trash
Mommy: Thank you Blake
Quick get out of the laundry room before he takes them out again! Yes, I know these steps take a long time. Yes, I know it would be faster to just pick them up and throw them away myself. Yes, I know it feels like you are nagging after the second time trying to get him to follow the directions. But, it is sooooo worth it!
Does HE think you're nagging? Hell, if somebody pulled that one on me I'd go postal!
ReplyDeleteConsistency is key when they are that age . . . you teach 'em early on before they even know what nagging is :)
ReplyDeletegood for u to stick with it. sometimes i wonder if i will ever be that discplined to do that or if i will just give up and do it myself. time will tell.
ReplyDeleteI have just recorded myself saying these sorts of thing and now all I do is push the appropriate button on repeat and walk away.
ReplyDeleteOkay not really but I want to!
:-)
You are sooooooooooo right Lori! I do that with Sonia and my kids at school but it DOES WORK! I told my sisters to do that with their children but they could not deal with the so called "nagging" feeling they got by doing it I guess!
ReplyDeleteyou are so right on this one! I do get tired of it at this time of year though because I think- it is almost May, you should know this by now. But, that is when it is even more important to stop- redo it correctly- and stick with the routine. (yes, I am giving myself a pep talk there to get through the last 25 days)
ReplyDeleteYes...we do this with Tate as well! He USUALLY listens on the first time...but not always, and you're right...it's worth it when they do listen finally!
ReplyDeleteworth it but it takes sooooo much longer with a 2 year old than a 5 year old! LOL!
ReplyDelete