How to deal with stubborn kids ?

[magicmouse2]

My daughters are 7 and 5 1/2. They absolutely point blank refuse to get dressed and washed on a morning. I really want to take advantage of EMH on the next trip to WDW, but it is so stressful trying to get them rady in time. Has anyone had the same problem ? how did you deal with it ? On our last vacation at POR in May I ended up chasing them round Alligator Bayou in their nightshirts!!!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Nothing to drink, eat, TV, or whatever the normal morning thing is UNTIL they are washed and dressed.
And I have 2 dds 12 & 6 so I understand your pain.

 

[ebaynut31]

OOOhhh I feel your frustration. My dd is 10 now and we are past that stage, for now until the teen years! yay.

I would tell mine that I was calling the babysitter service and she could stay in the room all day until I got back. That usually did the trick.

Lots of pixie dust to you. One child is all I can handle!

 

[Cindy B]

Usually telling my son that he can go to school in his PJ's or get dressed NOW!


My grandma always poured cold water on us, if we never got up in time... that woke us up in a hurry.. and it was something that she had to do once!

 

[disneygals]

At that age, I'd try positive reinforcement (also known as bribery ). I have three girls turning 11,9, and 7, so I feel your pain. Even if we are going somewhere fun! I think that they just have no concept of time.

As for waiting for the teenage years...we were taking an impromptu trip to the mall last weekend and they spent SO MUCH time dolling themselves up, I couldn't believe it!

 

[Serena]

My neices are the same way. My sister yells a lot.
One suggestion, I got from here, seemed to help a lot though. I had her put each girls' outfit, including socks and underwear and hairband in one of those 2 gallon ziplock bags. Each morning she would hand each girl the bag and they got dressed. Maybe it was the novelty, I don't know, but she said they got dressed without any hassle.

 

[Pooh93]

I'm lucky I guess. I have always laid out my kid's clothes at night and when they get up in the mornings, they automatically get dressed. (Applies to during the school year, weekends we sit around in PJ's a little longer) When on vacation, they are so excited to get up and do something "fun", they definitely move out.

I like the suggestions here about not giving them breakfast, cartoons whatever until they are dressed and fed. By that time, you can say it's time to head out and forget the cartoons! I also like the idea about the gallon ziploc bags. I've just never tried it. If we get back to WDW again, I think I will!

I'm sure you will get them moving. Good luck!!!

Sidenote:Serena, I think your nieces know who they can get by things with! I have the niece my mil is raising and she really yanks mil around. Went to Branson with them last week, niece started to yank mil around when we were trying to get out the door to Silver Dollar City until "mean aunt Laurie" (and trust me she gives me looks that could kill) stepped in and put the hammer down! Guess what...no more problems at least...about that! Lol

 

[Tinkbell]

A friend of mine went through this with her 5 year old daughter. She solved the problem by giving her "choices". I witnessed this firsthand a couple of times. She'd ask her would she like to put on the pink shirt or the yellow shirt? Get dressed in your room or the bathroom? Sneakers or sandals? Then she'd say, "I can't wait to see what you choose.". She sorta "tricked" her into thinking she wanted to do it. Before that, it was a battle. Maybe it won't work for everyone, but it sure helped her.

 

[Serena]

LOL, yeah, I know those looks very well. lol Another "mean aunt Laurie".

 

[WebmasterAlex]

I usually say something gentle and sensitive like
"get dressed NOW or you won't be able to sit for a week!"
then start counting to 3....

 

[Serena]

oooo mean Alex. LOL, that usually works pretty well.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Originally posted by WebmasterAlex
I usually say something gentle and sensitive like
"get dressed NOW or you won't be able to sit for a week!"
then start counting to 3....

This has always worked for us!

 

[Mom2Em]

We had a little trouble with DD during the school year... she would not want to get ready... So for every day she didn't get up and "go", the next day we woke her up earlier... she learned real quick that she would rather have that extra sleeping time...

 

[Pin Wizard]

Any time DS doesn't cooperate, he's notified that the TV privileges will be taken away...the rest of the day, a week, two weeks, etc. ...depending on what's going on. It works!

 

[Tuffcookie]

Tinkbell, I really like the way your friend handled the situation!

TC

 

[4greatboys]

Maybe you should put them to bed in their shirt and shorts for the next am. Then sit them up in bed, wash their face, put on their shoes and shove them toward the door, lol.
You could also try hitting EE a couple of times and sleeping in a couple of time. My family is def not one for getting up early so we normally sleep in some and hit the parks about 10 or 10:30. of course we go in the off season so its never been hard to hit all the stuff we wanted to.
Good Luck!!

 

[magicmouse2]

OK i AM LIKE ' NO tv i AM CONFISCATING THAT GAME BOY AND no DESSERT...


iT DOES NOT WORK


They are too tough for me.....


However the Ziploc bag just may work for my dastardly daughters........! Eureka!

Plus I may just deprive them of Mickey waffles avec maple syrup ...(cackle....)

Thanks for support - its more than I got from their teachers at school!!!! Since they are 'Angels' there - scoring top grades - in teachers eyes - they can do no wrong

 

[swanmom]

When I taught kindergarten (many moons ago), I had a mom bring in her 5 year old son in his pj's. This was after many days of problems with getting dressed and ready for school on time. She apparently had tried lots of things positive and negative to 'motivate' him. On this day, she told him that "you had lots of time and lots of warnings about being on time for school so this is what happens. If you are good, I'll bring your clothes at lunchtime." You can bet that was one little boy who got dressed when he was supposed to from then on ! LOL!