Clarity & Consistency
Meaningful Language & Clear Statements
This means:
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Making your words worth listening to…you are worth your child’s attention.
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Using your words to focus your child’s attention…your words will teach your child to pay attention.
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Avoiding meaningless questions.
What are meaningless questions?
Questions that you ask when you aren’t asking for information or for a genuine YES/NO answer, also known as 'rhetorical questions'. As a parent, you ask them, but in reality, you expect a resounding yes, or no answer at all.
MeaningLess Questions are different than Yes/No questions because with real Y/N questions, you are asking for the child’s opinion and you, as a parent, are ready for a yes and no, with no real reservations.
It is fine to use Y/N questions. We use Yes/No questions when we are fine with the child possibly saying “no”…when we do want to know a ‘Y’ or an ‘N’.
Don’t use Yes/No questions if we don’t want to hear a “no”. 😉
Examples:
Change them up in meaningful language with consistency & clarity:
It is dinner time! Do you want to set the dishes or the glasses?
Bedtime: Would you like to read this book or this other book? Your choice!
We are going for a walk now: do you want to go this way through the park or this way through the centre?
It is time to clean up and go home: do you want to pack up the books or the toys?
When do we use Clear Statements?
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When we want the child to follow a direction with clarity successfully.
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When we would appreciate cooperation from the child.
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When we need them to help.
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When we want them to join family activities (at an age-appropriate level!).
How can we 'supercharge' clear statements?
Whenever possible, add a choice like we explored in Module 1.
Examples:
Can you please put all your toys in the yellow basket in the living room? Do you want to start with the dolls or the stuffed animals?"
It is time to set the table for dinner, what do you want to start with, plates or glasses?
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