Tips for Working with a Child Who Is Very Persistent

Friends, Family and Home

• Resist family members' efforts to label her stubborn, and say that she is "persistent" instead.
• Encourage him to be flexible and willing to change activities when friends want to do other things.
• Encourage family members not to give in to her wants all the time.
• Recognize that persistent babies can be labeled as "difficult" by family.

Learning, Childcare and School

• Read picture books with more words and tell longer stories to him.
• Encourage teachers to be very specific with her about expectations.
• Parents and teacher should allow him extra time if needed to complete tasks.
• Alert teachers that she often needs some notice to be able to stop her activity and move on.

Activities and Television

• Provide him with activities that have many steps.
• Enroll her in classes and activities that she will be able to continue for a long time, such as soccer or ballet.
• Allow him to keep unfinished projects somewhere to complete after dinner, chores or other activities.
• Repeat and continue songs, games and books until she is satisfied.

Guidance and Discipline

• Be firm in your decisions so that continual attempts to get you to change your mind don't work.
• Remember he is not stubborn, just persistent and that can be a good thing!
• Talk with her about different ways to do things.
• Meet a baby's needs as soon as possible.