It's 7:45 AM and you've asked your child to put on shoes for the third time. Sound familiar? Here's a strategy that worked for me (most days): make it a race. Seriously, it's that simple. Tell them you'll time them, and the goal is to beat yesterday's time. For some reason, this taps into their competitive spirit.
Why do they resist shoes in the first place? Well, comfort is one thing. And sometimes it's about control. But mostly, they're just not interested in leaving their cozy play zone.
Try the following:
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Give Them a Choice: Ask, "Do you want to wear your red shoes or your blue ones?" Making them feel in control can work wonders.
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Sing a Song: Create a 'shoe song' that you only sing when it's time to put shoes on. I have no idea why, but my daughter's catchy tune often becomes her cue to slip on her shoes without a fuss.
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Visual Timer: Set a timer and make a game of it. If they beat the clock, there's a little reward waiting.
Real Scenario: The other day, I used an egg timer and challenged my son: "Can you beat the egg timer?" His eyes lit up at the prospect of winning. He didn't win the first round, but by the third attempt, his shoes were on in a flash. That's toddler motivation for you.
Ending with a Note of Imperfection: This won't work every morning; let's be real. There are those days when even the best tactics fall flat, and you're left wrestling a pair of shoes onto a small, wiggly foot. But try making it a fun challenge. It could just make your mornings a bit more bearable.