Preschool Pointers - 8: Don't Plan on Actually Going Anywhere

Problem:

You have a fun-filled day planned, chock to the brim with activities, but your kids can't contain themselves long enough to get to the car. Or sit quietly in there for the three minutes it gets to the store. Or get out without three different fights about who's going first for what. (If you can't tell, we're in the middle of a rough patch around here.)


Solution:

Go home. Tell your kids that if they can't handle it, you're turning around and going home. Then do it. I've been spoiling my kids because I want to do what I planned, and so I've been giving chance after chance for them to make a behavior change, then accepting 50 percent as good enough. It's not. And now my kids have been acting with shocked rage when I actually turn around and go home, when I follow through on the consequences. Which I've been doing consistently for the past week. What is making this easier is that I'm no longer actually planning on getting anywhere with them, so when we don't go it doesn't faze me. If we do get to go, bonus!