I'd love some tips to try to help my 5 yr old dd focus on what I'm saying when I ask her to do something. It's usually a case of her being in her own, more-important-to-her, world, and sometimes a case of trying to "push the limits" a bit. In my mind this is all good old normal 5 yr old behaviour, though her kindergarten teacher has mentioned that she needs to work on "focusing on tasks", and "listening" (more than any other 5 yr old? who knows...). Apparently this is what the teachers always said about dh too in his early school years.... and he is still like this today, so I'm sure she comes by it honestly. 
At any rate, dh and I are both getting frustrated and could use some tips on how to encourage her to respond to us when we speak to her, and how to better organize things (our schedule? approach?) to get her to get things done that need getting done (breakfast finished before leaving for school, shoes put on so we can go to the park, etc, etc) without resorting to badgering or losing our temper
. This also applies to listening and doing what I say in terms of safety. Like when I say "stop!" cause I see she's about to run past an alley without stopping for me, or stopping to look for cars, I need her to stop - no questions. Like if mommy says stop you don't ask questions - you just stop. Stop first, and then ask about it. Sometimes it's something I just prefer she doesn't do but we talk about it and we can reach a compromise, but sometimes it's something for safety's sake she needs to stop right that second. Not sure if I'm making sense - I'm very tired!
Anyway, sorry for the scattered thoughts. Time to head off to bed.
At any rate, dh and I are both getting frustrated and could use some tips on how to encourage her to respond to us when we speak to her, and how to better organize things (our schedule? approach?) to get her to get things done that need getting done (breakfast finished before leaving for school, shoes put on so we can go to the park, etc, etc) without resorting to badgering or losing our temper
. This also applies to listening and doing what I say in terms of safety. Like when I say "stop!" cause I see she's about to run past an alley without stopping for me, or stopping to look for cars, I need her to stop - no questions. Like if mommy says stop you don't ask questions - you just stop. Stop first, and then ask about it. Sometimes it's something I just prefer she doesn't do but we talk about it and we can reach a compromise, but sometimes it's something for safety's sake she needs to stop right that second. Not sure if I'm making sense - I'm very tired!Anyway, sorry for the scattered thoughts. Time to head off to bed.
