So what is a parent to do to if we can’t bribe, supervise, or impose goals or deadlines? Believe it or not, the answer, no matter how counterintuitive it might feel, is to back off. Allow kids to have the control and autonomy they crave even if it means struggling with the task or situation at hand.
A personal anecdote: No matter how many stickers, coins, or toys I offer my toddler will sometimes completely refuse to put clothes on in the morning. But if I give her free reign to pick out whatever she wants (and she will pick something that makes her mom upset) she will gladly change herself.
