Raising an obedient child has never been easy for any parent, but through consistent training in this regard, you would be amazed at how far you have come to set the standard.
During the Salah break, my Son and I had visited a distance uncle and his wife in the South West in a bit to get the most out of the very short break.
We haven’t really maintained a close contact after their wedding, so I realized I could make do with the opportunity.
After gisting for a while, their 6-year-old son rushed up to me, grabbed my other phone and ran back to his seat.
He was pressing on God knows what, while his mom keeps warning him like, Demi, don’t spoil Uncle’s phone. I will beat you.
Well, it’s never an issue to see a child play with my gadgets but I simply don’t like when a child is extremely stubborn as Demi.
All this time, I can tell how sorry my son feels in his mind through his calmness. I bet he wondered why a child can be so stubborn. He’s just different from me, he’d thought within.
Suddenly, a sound came from where he was sitting. His mom rushed up there to check things out, and behold, Demi had broken the cover of my phone in an attempt to open it.
Kpa! Another sound came through.
This time, it was a giant spank on his back from his mom. Funny. He looked his mom in the face and was like, “I will tell my daddy” — What a mess!
Child obedience training can be so tiring.
Usually, your child is supposed to obey your instructions not because he’s scared of the consequences that might follow if he disobeys, nor because someone is watching and he’s trying to impress, but because deep within, he knows it is the right thing to do.
Every child came into this world with the ability to obey. Unfortunately, none was born with the strength to resist the temptations forcing him to disobey. It is your duty as a parent to strengthen his will through consistent child obedience training.
Honestly speaking, one of the most difficult things to do is how to teach obedience to a child. Getting your child to obey you is very tiring but the benefits include;
- Not struggling to get him to do things he is told
- Not having to remind him to do a task always
- Trusting your child will do what is right at all time.
All these, to mention a few is worth the effort while trying to help your child build the habit of obedience.
Child Obedience Training: 5 Strategies to help your child listen to you fast
You are human. You get frustrated, tired and unwilling to continue. The good news is that I quite understand this part about you. So below is a step-by-step guide on how to raise obedient child.
1. Instruct through a soft-spoken tone once
This brings us back to visit I talked about on the earlier paragraphs. Demi’s mom need not yell, spank or go off point like she did.
While training a child towards obedience, there’s no part where yelling, threatening and nagging will fit in to cause your child to obey.
Do make sure you achieve obedience with a soft word spoken once. I understand it is quite unlikely for your child to obey at a first attempt but here’s telling you to train him in this direction.
At your first instruction, you should expect your child to obey or make sure it happens.
It is normal to expect them to obey you, but sometimes, you might need to follow up to achieve it. For instance, you can easily carry your child from the couch to his bed. But because you have shown him when and how to go to his bed every night, you can simply hold him by the hand and lead.
2. Do not repeat yourself
Child obedience training involves being strict with your actions in order to arrive at a result faster.
If you are conversant with Nollywood movies, you probably must have come across a character (mom), sitting confidently in the sitting room, calling her daughter there times before getting a response.
The instances are endless. Never repeat yourself. Tell your child to put his toys away and mean it. If you repeat this the second and third time, for instance, you are indirectly training him to wait until the last request before obeying your orders.
Same goes along with offering your child a chance to do what is right before the count of three. Say the truth — you’re guilty of this too. Maybe partially. But the downside is that your child knows he doesn’t have to obey until you count your numbers to the last.
3. Effect cheerful and prompt obedience
How do you train your child to promptly obey your orders?
It is still disobedience if your child delayed in responding to the instructions you passed.
Again, when you instruct your child to put this toys away and join you in the kitchen, you discovered he was just getting up after 5 minutes because you were busy with the dishes.
This analysis quite understandable. He actually obeyed you but on his own term — This is still disobedience. Do you agree?
However, there’s a solution. Require your child to acknowledge your instructions with statements like, “Yes, mom” or “I’m coming”.
There is no way you make use of these two statements and still holding on to the same thing. Besides, it shows respect and helps to take prompt actions.
4. Don’t give orders you do not intend to see carried out
It is better not to give any instructions to your child if you are sure it won’t take effect. For instance, you’re in the best position to determine when your child is tired and not able to wash the dishes. In this scenario, it is better to suspend the task until you think he is active enough to handle them; i.e, if you choose not to do it yourself.
Do not encourage pretense on your child. If you give a chance to disobey your orders because he is tired, he would definitely give the same excuse even when he is strong just to disobey you.
5. Encourage obedience through games
Most time, obedience does not come naturally easy for most of us to achieve; especially when our target is to make kids listen. Getting the desired result evolves around consistent effort which includes trying out different strategies and sticking to one causes a better effect. Video games are sure ways. Learning and teaching obedience can be much fun with the introduction of video games like the ones listed here. (The games listed here have been so beneficial in training my children to obey and I will earn some commissions if you purchased through this link).
6. Let your child knows the reward of prompt obedience
The earlier you let your child knows the reward of prompt obedience as freedom and independence, the better it plays in the long run. If your child is older, explain to him that prompt and cheerful obedience will land him to have more freedom and independence.
For example, if you trust your child that he will obey instantly when you call him out in the midst of his friends during playtime, then you can allow him to have plenty time to play with friends.
Child obedience training does not happen overnight. Be prepared because you will need to devote more time and energy to developing the habit of obedience in your home. Don’t become overwhelmed by expecting perfect obedience immediately. Begin with one of the steps above and implement it faithfully. The result is certain.
