Communication Skills Archives -

Podcast #20: 5 Ways To Get Kids To Listen – Part 2

It just happened one morning, as I write this episode out: during the morning rush… well I shouldn’t say rush because the kids weren’t rushing. We were doing great in time. We were just in the middle of making their breakfast and putting their lunches together. I was there assisting, cutting up veggies and just making sure they had what they needed and…there it was, in the middle of the kitchen floor: a rag.

People were talking and kicking it around and just not saying anything. And it’s not like they couldn’t feel it or anything, they were barefoot! They just weren’t aware that there was something on the floor that someone could’ve just stopped to pick up.

But no.

So, as much as I was burning inside to say something, I waited. I waited to see if someone, ANYONE would notice. Nothing. So, I ended up doing it myself.

Oftentimes, it feels like the ONLY person who realizes the house is a mess, realizes that things aren’t where they should be, or realizes that other stuff has been sitting THERE for days or even weeks, and finally stops to do something about it?…It’s YOU!

Podcast #19: 5 ways to get kids to listen – Part 1

Dianne / May 19, 2022

How do you get your kids to listen?

Well, let me be clear: they DO listen…. Sometimes, just not consistently. And one mom even said: “sometimes, it’s as though he CHOOSES NOT to listen!”

Now, I’m talking about the boring stuff. The stuff that needs to get done around the house: picking up after themselves, cleaning their room, helping their brother or sister out, bringing some toilet paper upstairs since they’re coming this way, or having to apologize to their sibling for whatever reason.

…. You know, regular life stuff !

Ahhh ! The frustration when they just don’t want to listen! I see it all the time: With my own family, kids at the mall, the kids at the school…

So it got me thinking after we left our makeshift support group thing we had going on at the park. I decided to text them a list of what I usually say to get my kids to listen in hopes that it will help them with their challenges and roadblocks.

So my hope for you today, dear listener, is that while you’re listening to this episode, keep an open mind. Listen to understand where I’m coming from and then take what you need. Tweak what resonates and makes sense for you, so that it applies to your family. I hope this helps!