Selective hearing

Children can be so exasperating!  You know they can hear perfectly well (their pediatrician will back you up on that) yet when you tell them to do something (or NOT do something) they look at you with a blank uncomprehending stare.  They have selective hearing but don't worry, it's not clinical  :)

Here's something to try when you give your child directions.  Ask him to tell you what you just said.  Most likely he'll just go "uhhhhhhh, I don't know".  So repeat what you want him to do and ask again what you said.  He'll probably be listening a little closer this time.  Make sure he got all the important facts of what you said.  Then see that he follows through.

I think kids get distracted or preoccupied and really aren't paying attention when you tell them something.  So, you assume he heard you when in reality, he didn't.  By asking him to tell you in his words what you want him to do, he'll learn how to be a better listener and a better listener is one step closer to a child who doesn't have to be reminded of everything.