Can't Make 'Em Do It: Sleeping, Eating, Toileting

Summary of Article's First 150 Words

Total word count: 1456

– Situation –

Sleeping
It is naptime and Marcel's teacher, Svetlana, strokes Marcel's eyelids in hopes of soothing him to sleep, but every time she stops — Marcel's eyes pop open.

Eating
Evangeline has spent the past half hour coaxing Magdella to 'just taste' her salad. Finally, Magdella gives in, accepts a miniscule bit of lettuce, gags, and then spits it out.

Toileting
Harold's son, Matthew, is the only child in his toddler class still in diapers. Tonight, Matthew sat on his potty through three readings of Curious George, without results. As soon as the Pull-Ups® were back on, an all too-familiar odor became evident. Harold got out a new diaper.



– Solution –

Sleeping, eating, and toileting battles frustrate most adults. Why? It's simple — we can't make 'em do it. Falling asleep (or not) is within a child's control. The same is true for chewing and swallowing, or withholding and releasing urine and feces. Sleeping, Eating, ...