You asked

My two year old doesn’t listen when I tell her “No”. What can I do?

A two year old child hears the word ‘no’ so often that they begin to tune it out. So, a parent must find other ways to say no to their child.

Make it positive. Think before you automatically say no to your child. Is there a way that I can rephrase my response so that I am not using the word ‘no’? A two year old will respond better to a direct positive instruction. For instance, instead of saying, “No, don’t play ball in the kitchen,” say, “Let’s go outdoors to play with the ball.” Instead of saying, “No, you have to hold my hand in the parking lot,” say, “I want you to hold my hand because the parking lot is dangerous”.

It’s also helpful to offer options when you need to say ‘no’ to your child. As an example, if your child wants candy but you don’t want her to have it because it is too close to dinner time, offer alternative healthy snack like grapes, instead of a just denying her request for candy. This allows your child to make a decision, and making decisions helps a child feel in control.

Distracting your child’s attention from something that would cause you to say ‘no’ works as well. If you’re shopping and your toddler reaches for a glass jar on the shelf, move her away from the jar and divert her attention to something else in the store. This is much easier than saying ‘no’ over and over.

Lastly, choose your battles wisely. You don’t have to say ‘no’ to everything. If your child wants to splash in a puddle while walking home from the park, let her. As long as there is no harm in doing so, why not indulge their sense of adventure?

More questions

Children can learn how to tell lies from a very early age, commonly by around three years of age.
My child is exhibiting some sexualised behaviour ... should I be concerned?
Defiance is the way that a preschool child asserts himself. He wants to show the world that he has his own identity and is not as dependent on you as he once was.
When your two year old throws a tantrum in a public place, it can be embarrassing and upsetting.
A parent wants their child to have everything because they love them. But showing your love without spoiling your child rotten is difficult at best.
A bossy four year old is experimenting with her power and the affect that her words have over a situation.
Defiance is the way that a two year old child begins to assert her independence. She wants to show the world that she has her own identity and is not as dependent on you as she once was. With this newfound independence, she will begin to ignore your demands, especially when you say, “no”.
If one of your disciplinary tools it the tried and true ‘time out’, but it doesn’t seem to be working with your preschooler, it’s time to do some troubleshooting.
Most parents swear by the tried and true ‘time out’, but some children it will have no effect. If you are trying to use time out to discipline your two year old, but it is not working, you need to examine exactly what you are doing.
If one of your disciplinary tools it the tried and true “time out”, but it doesn’t seem to be working with your preschooler, it’s time to do some troubleshooting.

Latest

Trending