My toddler ignores me. How do I get him to listen when I talk?

You will probably find that when you give your toddler an instruction, or ask him something, he ignores you. At this age, it’s your job to teach your child how to listen, and this can be a tricky process. Here are a few tips that will help you to get your child’s attention, and get him to listen to you:

Be clear about what you want. If you give instructions that are too long, your child can’t focus on what you want, and he will lose interest.

It’s also a good idea to be on your child’s level when you speak to them. Shouting from another room does not work – you’re just part of the background noise! So get down on your hands and knees, and speak directly to your toddler.

Use play to motivate your child. Instead of simply issuing an instruction, like putting away their toys, make a game out of it.

Remind your child of what you’ve asked. If it’s time to take a bath soon, tell him that you will call him in a few minutes, and that it’s then time to come into the house.

Don’t make idle threats, and make sure you follow through. If you’ve said, for instance, that there are ten minutes before bed time, make sure you’re ready, in ten minutes time, to put your child to bed.