Hellobee Boards

Mine is only 2.5 so a bit younger, but so far I've stopped asking her and turned it into a command. Like, whereas before I used to say "could you put your shoes on please?" and almost give her a choice, now I say "put your shoes on, please". If she says "no" I ask her again, if still no then I say "either you can do it, or I will do it, after I count down from five" and then usually end up doing it myself. It's very much a work in progress but it does make me feel like I have more control while still giving her a chance to cooperate.

Counting generally works in our house, although a couple times at first when I asked her to do something she'd sass me tell me to count - like she thought it was funny. But now she knows I'll use a mad voice and she doesn't like me to "be sad at her", so when I count she usually scurries to do what was asked.

The running, I don't know. We deal with that too, and it's frustrating - dashing upstairs when it's bed time is a favorite move at the moment.

@mediagirl: And the running from you, I have no advice. DD is the worst at this, she thinks it's hilarious and is much faster than my huge pregnant butt running after her.

DD1 has recently started with the 'no!' as well - just in time for her to turn 3 in a few weeks, ha! If it is in response to a question, I give her a raised eyebrow look and she quickly switches it to 'no thank you', which is fine.

If it is in response to being asked/told to do something, I completely ignore it and keep moving on as though she is doing what I've asked. I just don't acknowledge the 'no' at all and most of the time she gets on with what I've asked her to do. I think she wants a reaction to the 'no' and she just doesn't get one. It doesn't always work but most of the time, ignoring and keeping the expectation that I've asked her to do something and I expect it to be done, is enough.