Step 3
Let’s be honest - “Because I said so” works... only for a little while.
Kids follow rules better when they make sense. No one likes mysterious boundaries.
Swap orders for reasons: “We walk indoors so we don’t bump into people.”
Give context: “We tidy up because this space is for everyone.”
Use “because” or “so” - magic words for cooperation.
Repetition helps. A lot. Be ready to teach something once but practise 100 times. That means saying it 100 times (until your mouth and brain stops synchronising). That’s normal.
Real-life Wins:
You say, “We don’t throw blocks because they could hurt someone,” and the next time your child picks one up, they pause -
just long enough to remind you that the message is sinking in. Growth.