258: What to Do When Your Kid Isn’t Listening, with Penny Williams
Mar 28, 2024
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Penny Williams offers practical advice for parents on how to handle situations when their kids aren't listening. She discusses recognizing distractions, accommodating slow processing speeds, engaging physically, providing written instructions, and being mindful of individual needs to foster better communication and cooperation.
Children may process information in non-traditional ways, listen while engaged in activities, requiring recognition of unique communication styles.
Avoiding repeated instructions, using written prompts, and waiting for regulation can facilitate effective communication with children, enhancing comprehension and connection.
Deep dives
Understanding Different Ways of Listening and Processing
Kids may listen and process information even while engaged in activities like playing with Legos or watching videos, not displaying traditional listening cues. Recognizing these unique communication styles helps avoid misunderstandings and nurtures effective communication strategies.
Adapting Communication for Better Engagement
Avoiding repeated instructions and nagging can reduce pressure on kids, facilitating their ability to focus and respond. Strategies like giving time for processing and using written instructions aid in making tasks more manageable and enhancing comprehension in children with diverse processing speeds and needs.
Addressing Regulation and Enhancing Connection
Recognizing dysregulation as a barrier to effective communication highlights the importance of waiting for a child to be regulated before giving instructions. Employing gentle physical cues, eye-level communication, and written prompts offer supportive tools to bridge communication gaps and foster a deeper connection with children.
Let's talk about what to do when your kid isn't listening. Remember, they might be processing your words in non-traditional ways, so it's important to find alternative approaches to help them focus, process, and follow through. From recognizing distractions to accommodating slow processing speeds, I offer practical advice to help parents navigate these complex situations, including how to engage them physically, provide written instructions, and be mindful of their individual needs. By understanding these hurdles and meeting your kid where they are, you can foster better communication and cooperation. Join me!