Does anyone have any tips on best ways to handle a 3+ year old who stalls a lot? We always run late to preschool in the morning (and everywhere) because of this behaviour. She is independent, and I let her do things herself. The problem is the stalling... LO takes her own sweet time to do things, frequently getting distracted and carried away as she explores and plays. I understand what is happening, but I need to get her to school on time, and can't afford to spend 2 hours everyday yelling at her to do the next thing. And that's the thing - now she does not move on until I come and frown/yell at her. I hate the yelling. It stresses both of us out. And I'm sure its a bad fix. I've tried setting timers on the phone and on the microwave/tv to get her moving. However, it's too complex for her vs. a simple countdown. (Hmmm Should I record a countdown in my own voice???) I've tried charts to strike off/check - she loves them, but she still stalls. What do you do to get that little baby bum moving?
I don’t think a 3 yr old can fathom the concept of time ( or my kids were slow learners lol). I started with the time concept more around 5 yrs. Practice getting ready on time during low stress situations ( heading out to park/ mall/ friends), rather than busy morning times. Then slowly transition to getting ready for school. I admit I still have times in the morning where the younger one decides to start reading a book when I am pulling my hair out.
Have you tried counting to 5? My son gets distracted too, and when I need him to hurry up, I start counting to five - telling him he has to finish a task. For example, if he's slow to get around to the dining table to eat breakfast, I tell him he needs to be there by the time I count to five. I give him simple instruction to finish all his food - sometimes sitting by him while he eats, works better to make him finish in a timely manner. Some kids are motivated by chore lists. I have a list of morning tasks (with pictures), that my son has to finish. As he finishes them, he earns a star each day (that's his prize), which he cashes in for a weekly surprise (doesn't have to be a large surprise). It doesn't work every day, but it's a pretty solid way to keep him invested in completing his tasks.
