RL.B.16 RESPONDS TO FIRM DIRECTIONS BY CEASING ACTIVITY

If your child is not yet mobile and getting into strife, this item will not be relevant to you, and you can return to it later.

For the mobile child, understanding and responding to firm directions is important not only to discipline, but, more important, to safety.

The term ‘no’ has its place, but it loses its meaning if used too often. If you find yourself saying ‘no’ umpteen times a day, we refer you to Book 2, Chapter 6.

How to Assess

Score plus if your child stops an undesirable activity, at least momentarily, when you speak to her firmly.

How to Teach

This skill can only be taught in situations that arise naturally.

Initially you may need to remove your child from the source of the trouble, to back up your direction.

Although your child will respond to your tone of voice, rather than your words, it’s a good idea to get into the habit of giving positive directions wherever possible. ‘The books stay on the shelves’ can be said just as firmly as ‘Don’t pull the books off, and such positive directions help strengthen the child’s sense of how things should be.