Negotiating
I find that we spend a lot of time negotiating with Michael.
"Be good and you can ride the train" (the kids train at the outdoor mall, which is $2 per ride)
"Put on your jacket and you can have a cookie"
Michael - "One more ... cookie. One more cookie."
Well, I've read a lot on the art of toddler negotiations. Some articles say just don't do it. Other articles say that life itself is about give and take, negotiation and compromise. Just for the record ... we never set out with the intention of negotiating with him. It sort of happened. One thing I read time and time again was when a toddler is demanding something they can't have, to distract them with something that they can.
For example, Michael wants a ballpoint pen. Can't have that, too dangerous. He gets upset. "Here, have a cookie instead."
This naturally led to a bit of give and take and negotiation.
Incidentally, he loves cookies. This evening, he really amazed me with his speech abilities. I had to give him a cookie to get him to wear a jacket (it's near freezing this evening). He finished it, and said "one more ... one more ... cookie. One more cookie." I was really impressed. He is able to articulate not only what he wants, but specify the article. I kinda gave in because it was a big communication milestone for him. He says "no more" when something is empty (like a cup of gatorade or bowl of soup), or he'll say "one more" when he wants another, but he's started to piece together and say "one more cookie."
He's so funny. We were at the mall a few days ago and he got ahold of my iPhone and wouldn't give it up. Eventually, I said "Michael if you give me the phone, I'll give you a cookie." Apparently he will give up an iPhone for a cookie. :-)
"Be good and you can ride the train" (the kids train at the outdoor mall, which is $2 per ride)
"Put on your jacket and you can have a cookie"
Michael - "One more ... cookie. One more cookie."
Well, I've read a lot on the art of toddler negotiations. Some articles say just don't do it. Other articles say that life itself is about give and take, negotiation and compromise. Just for the record ... we never set out with the intention of negotiating with him. It sort of happened. One thing I read time and time again was when a toddler is demanding something they can't have, to distract them with something that they can.
For example, Michael wants a ballpoint pen. Can't have that, too dangerous. He gets upset. "Here, have a cookie instead."
This naturally led to a bit of give and take and negotiation.
Incidentally, he loves cookies. This evening, he really amazed me with his speech abilities. I had to give him a cookie to get him to wear a jacket (it's near freezing this evening). He finished it, and said "one more ... one more ... cookie. One more cookie." I was really impressed. He is able to articulate not only what he wants, but specify the article. I kinda gave in because it was a big communication milestone for him. He says "no more" when something is empty (like a cup of gatorade or bowl of soup), or he'll say "one more" when he wants another, but he's started to piece together and say "one more cookie."
He's so funny. We were at the mall a few days ago and he got ahold of my iPhone and wouldn't give it up. Eventually, I said "Michael if you give me the phone, I'll give you a cookie." Apparently he will give up an iPhone for a cookie. :-)
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