Sometimes you have to repeat something twice. The noise in the next room, poor coverage, temporary articulation indisposition caused by an unexpected yawn? Peanuts. It’s frustrating when you say something with a smile, and you do not see any sense of understanding. You say something for the third time, slowly and clearly, and the child looks as if he saw you for the first time. How to get rid of the superpower of invisibility and talk so that the child understands?
Simple solution
The ability to understand increasingly complex content develops with age and the richness of speech. Therefore, from the first days of life it is worth talking to a child (speech in case babies develops only in contact with another person! Songs for children and audiobooks with fairy tales will not help in that case). As you grow up, it is worth giving a good example, using a varied language and creating the opportunity to learn new words. However, when we come to fulfill duties or situations requiring concentration, we all prefer simple messages. Instead of a lengthy monologue full of stylistic figures and digression, it is better to hear three sentences full of content, but in a cost-effective form. Children are radical fans of simple messages.
Polite – what it means?
In our adult minds, certain words, even if not necessarily transparent and understandable, can be given meaning, which makes them useful in conversation. Everyone has a general idea of what the word “polite” means, although the word is very broad. For some, cleaning up may be more important in politeness, for others opening doors to women or giving way to the elderly. Often this word is simply adapted to the situation.
Do not do it here. Do it somewhere else
Bans that are to be a hint for a child’s behavior can also be embarrassing. The behavior to which we try to discourage the child is worth replacing with another, more adequate. If you are taking your child away a possibility to do something, offer him another one. A careful parent warns “Do not wipe your hands on your pants.” Okay, so what? There is also a tablecloth. “Wipe your hands on a napkin, lie on the table” is much more helpful.
Formulating appropriate, adequate for the child’s ability and age, messages not only save time and avoid frustration, which in the event of a misunderstanding will affect both sides. It is also an easy way to avoid banning your child. By dressing our advice in the form of tips, and not sentences starting with “No”, the child will avoid the impression that everything is wrong – but it will be able to take our advice as help and support.