Sunday, May 9, 2010

Tell a Secret

Last week a friend was trying to get her four-year old child to come to her at the playground, but her daughter was ignoring her calls. I asked her if I could try something that works with my kids and my friend was game.


I told the girl that I had a really good secret to tell her, but I could only tell her when she tagged my hand. I held my hand out and watched her sprint across the playground to me. When she touched my hand, I bent down and whispered dramatically in her ear that my favorite color was purple. Her eyes lit up and she told me that her favorite color was pink. She then took her mother’s hand and happily walked to the car.

I’ve been using this game since my kids were toddlers with amazing success. My eight and a half year old daughter has caught onto it, but my six year old son will still fall for it. The actual secret that you tell her isn’t as important as acting like it is the most important secret in the world. You can tell her something silly like you saw a purple cow yesterday, that you love her very much or even a knock-knock joke.

9 comments:

  1. You mean I could have spared my children the horrible threats all these years? Although, I have never seen kids move faster than when I yelled into the boys locker room at the pool "The pool guy said the last kid out has to mop the floor." I serioulsy thought my twins were the last ones in there, but this other kid came flying out with them. :)

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  2. LMAO, Diane. I think that your technique will work even better than tellign a secret. I'm going to try that this summer.

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  3. Oh my gosh this is the cutest thing! I don't have children but my baby sister just had a little girl and when she is growing up this might be a great way to give her child a little extra love and also some good discipline that will be used later in live.

    I love Diane's comment she just cracked me up!

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  4. Hi Jennifer! I tagged you in the Five Things Tag over at my blog. Well, I had to add a post because, good grief, I forgot to tag people. You all need to slow down.

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  5. Jen, Thanks for stopping by. Congratulations on your new niece!

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  6. Cute post, Jennifer! I use the "I have a surprise for you!" Then, of course it is followed by tickles. :)

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  7. My youngest is nine and I just threaten to beat her. (Kidding of course!) It's amazing how we have to be creative psychologists to get our kids to do anything. Do you know any good tricks for getting your 19 year old son to mow the lawn?

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  8. Mary Jo, love the idea of using tickles as a surprise! My kids would love that.

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  9. Krista,

    Thanks for stopping by. Yep, it is funny how we have to be creative. I've learned the hard way that it's so much easier when they willing comply and have no idea that they are doing what I want them to, LOL.

    ROFL about the 19 year old. We aren't their yet, but you'll have to let me know if you come up with any good ideas for that.

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