Say It, Do It

07/28/2017

If we miss the moment, we miss the clues. In the present, when we allow ourselves to fully live there, we are restored, made wiser, made deeper and happier.
Marianne Williamson, author and political candidate

In her book, The Top Ten Preschool Parenting Problems, Roslyn Ann Duffy offers these sage words of wisdom that programs can pass on to families:

"'Angela, throw the ball one more time – and we’re leaving!'

'Benjamin James, what did I say? If you can’t share the sandbox toys, we’re going home!'

"Do those statements sound a bit too familiar? Children everywhere hear such messages all the time: then little Angela will toss her ball – again; little Benjamin will continue to stockpile the sandbox shovels...Their parents' messages and the children’s behavior will continue – but nothing changes: no one stops and no one goes...

"When we tell a young child that there will be dire consequences if he or she does something 'one more time,' we have spelled out almost certain disaster. Why?...Young children don't have much impulse control...A better plan would be to say what to do with the ball: 'Keep the ball on the floor. Please roll it along the ground.' If...problems continue, it is time to leave. You said it. Now do it. So go."

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