“Please put on your pajamas honey.”
Blank stare.
“I’m not going to ask you again!”
Another blank stare.
Have you ever asked your toddler to do something and in return you receive a blank stare? There have been many times where I’ve given our preschooler a direction and she doesn’t follow through. It’s frustrating! I question why won’t my toddler follow directions?
Shortly after our daughter turned 3 we decided it was time to increase her independence. She was going to learn to put her pajamas on by herself. The only problem, our toddler didn’t seem to be listening to anything I said. Every time we told her to get dressed, she would stare at us or whine “But I can’t!”
I often believed she was being defiant. Shouldn’t a preschooler know how to put her pajamas on? How do I get my toddler to listen without yelling at her?
I was at a crossroads. Was my daughter being defiant and strong willed? Or was I missing something?
Toddler Won’t Follow Directions
As parents, it can be difficult to tell if our kids are deliberately disobeying or if they really don’t understand what we are asking.
What if they aren’t following through because of a misunderstanding instead of an attitude of defiance?
- Be a better listener.
- Go play.
- Get ready for school.
- Pay attention.
I love this! My kids are grown, now, but we used the same principle of breaking things down and talking them through simple tasks. We take for granted the simple things and don’t always realize that it is ALL new to them! Sometimes what seems simple to us is overwhelming for them!
I wish this worked for my 6 yr old. I’ll have to try ‘put one foot in front of the other and walk through the doorway pls.’
Or “reach out your arm to hand me the balloon so it wont fly away. No? Oops well there it goes.’
I am sympathetic to my kid when she seems overwhelmed but I feel my lo is defiant because she will purposely ignore me.
She will look me in the eye while im asking her a question and not respond. “How was your day hun?” Blank stare. Repeat the question 5 times, she lets out a groan to show her displeasure and puts her hand over her mouth. This goes for almost any question. Shes 6, not 16. When she isnt ignoring me, she does the opposite of what i tell or ask her.
Me: “My hands are full, and theres a speeding car, stay near me by this door.” Her: runs to other side of car.
To make matters worse anytimei try to discipline her, her dad or my mom challenge my authority. So she doesn’t respect me.
Me: “No you cant have a cookie before dinner.” Mom: oh a cookie wont hurt. Ill buy you some cookies later sweetie. ” Even though she knows the struggle of my picky eater.
It’s unreal.