More and more we are seeing children who just don’t reply when they are spoken to. (In fact, I have a daughter who occasionally falls into this category!) Shyness may be an excuse, but really it is not okay to be still when you are spoken to! Even for the young. What’s a mother to do?
First course of action is to do some training. This can be plenty of fun. Bring a few hats for props and some name tags to dress up your kids. “Mrs. Jones” can wear the flowered hat and “Mr. Jones” can wear a baseball cap, for example. Now, take turns having “Mr. Jones” introduce his “wife” to one of your family. Role play it first, so they know just what is expected. Then switch around and let everyone have a turn.
The world is getting rude.
Aren’t babies the greatest? They don’t give a smidgen of care to what you dress them up in. It can be on inside-out and backwards, and they don’t complain. They don’t mind if their hair isn’t combed just so. They aren’t self-conscious if they burp. Tummy gurgling in public doesn’t bother them a bit. They think they are wonderful! And they are right, too.
