Ah the age old problem, how to get your kids to listen to you. You get frustrated because your kids tune you out, so how does a parent motivate their child to listen better? By following these simple no nonsense tips that help motivate the kids from the time they are little.
Just A Minute
When kids want 
a parent to do something or to get their attention, they are frequently met with the words, “Just a minute” followed by “as soon as I finish what I am doing” or some such similarity.
Kids learn by example, if parents want kids to be motivated to listen, parents need to be motivated to act.
Kids will respond as they are taught so if parents want motivated children, the parents need to be motivated as well.
Whisper
Everyone’s heard, “If you want to capture someones attention, whisper”. The same goes with kids.
If you wish to capture their attention, whisper.
It’s that simple. A mom of ten kids once explained to a friend she had no listening issues with her children and this was why. She always whispered.
If the kids wanted to know what she was whispering about, they had to be motivated to listen.
Besides, everyone knows if you don’t want someone to hear something all you have to do is whisper. Bonus, no yelling this way. Children learn quiet voices. They don’t yell and scream for attention.
Avoid Responding In Anger
Yelling at the kid that’s about to hit their sibling is counter productive. Why? Because you’re responding to an angry situation with anger. What to do instead, If the child is about to hit, remove him or her from the situation calmly and quietly until the situation can be clearly assessed.
Redirect
Kids that aren’t good listeners can learn to be good listeners by playing games requiring listening such as “Simon Says,” “Mother May I” and the like.
Kids will focus on the listening and attempt to do the bidding. The return is these kids are learning valuable listening skills that will go with them throughout the rest of their lives.
Read
From the tim
e some parents are expecting until the kids can read to the parents, many families read. From within the confines of the womb babies can hear and they are already learning to listen. Go ahead, close your eyes and listen for a moment and see what you hear.
Do you hear a soothing voice, or do you hear loud chaotic noises? There is a huge difference in learning to listen and having to struggle to hear over chaos. Motivating kids to listen should be done in a quieter environment.
Sharing Time
Allowing kids to share with one another teaches and motivates kids to listen. Kids love being center stage so learning to listen to others allows them the freedom to learn listening motivation.
These tips to motivate your kids to listen to you will work well if done consistently.
Laura Greening is a mom and a part time wedding planner. She loves to write about parenting and wedding. She is currently working as a consultant Wallao.com, a flower girl dress store, based in Los Angeles, CA.
Do you have any tips for getting kids to listen? Please share them with us. Thank you.
I love the first tip about listening to your kids in order to teach them to listen to you. It’s true that many good listeners have that skill because they once were thoughtfully listened to. What a great insight to remember with our children!
I agree Dixie – it was a learning moment for me too!
Gerardo