OT - How to get 5 year old to listen??

[pooh4evr]

my middle one is 5 - half the time she looks at me like I am speaking Martian or something the other half she is whinning about whatever it is ai asked her to do- I think it is more the age than anything! Of course my 7 yr old really isn't much better except when she throws out a smarty pants remark back-- I am NOT ready for this!! The other day she told me maybe I should go take a vacation by myself! don't mind if I do!!

 

[brandylouwho]

OMG, I talk about listening ears with my almost 5 yr old all the time, but she got me back the other day...she told me that her ears were already on vacation--at Disneyworld (such the smartybutt she is).

We also have problems with finding our inside voices, and I was worried about her hearing, but I have noticed that it is usually when she is excited that she gets unbelievably LOUD, which gets the one year old screeching too, oooh my ears hurt thinking about it.

and we also have sit out time issues, she suddenly becomes so "scared" of the sit out chair, or stairs, or couch, or anywhere we try to make her sit for a time out.

Thankfully not all days are this rough, but some days are very trying.

 

[ilandrazdsw]

Being 5 probably is the problem. It will pass and then he will be 11 or 12 and you will have the same problem again.

I wanted a girl and was blessed after my DS (OOPS)...I just wish someone or one of the books would have told me that PMS begins at birth

 

[packofjedis]

I got 2 great pieces of advice when my son was about 4 from a wonderful pediatrician.

Talk really quietly. They'll have to be quiet to hear what you're saying.

Also (and this one works really well) is point to your nose to get them to look there to get their full attention. Every time they look away stop talking and tell them to look back at you.

Now granted the pointing at the nose thing kind of became habit for me and I still do it with my kids 11 and 9 now and occasionally my husband. (But I have to say it does work - even when my husband is watching tv!!!) Try it. It's all about getting their full attention. And I'll agree with the other person that said to limit your words. The more you talk, the more their minds wander.