Photo by Sophie
One of the greatest things I learned from my dad was the art of negotiation; specifically, how to negotiate effectively and avoid all the begging, pleading and whining! Here's an example of how it works with an older child:
Child: "Mom, can I go with Sally to the mall?"
Mom: "Sure, but be home by 5:00."
Child: "Oh mom, c'mon, can't I be home at 6:00?"
Mom (calmly): "OK, be home at 4:00."
Child: "OK 5:00 is good. I'll be home at 5:00."
I remember it working like a charm when I was growing up (even though I hated it!) and now that I'm a parent, I find it to be quite useful myself. I even use it on my 5 year old. ("Mom, can I have 10 pieces of candy?" "Uh, how about 5." "Can I have 8 pieces?" "How about 3?"…)
For more tips and resources, check out Amy's blog Homeschooling for Free.
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