Shouting “be careful” to warn his child with a danger is not always very effective according to experts. A mother opted for another word that has the advantage of immobilizing her son instantly. Practical before crossing the street!
All parents are faced with the same situation, faced with a risk of immediate danger, it is urgent to prevent your child, whatever their age. But when they are small and run instead of walking, or that they rush at full speed with their scooter or bike, it is not always easy to be heard. We may scream their first name and “be careful!”, They don’t always hear or don’t want to listen. Moreover, some experts agreed that this arrest is not very clear for children. “”When they are constantly repeating “attention”, it ends up saying nothing“Explained the family therapist Deena Margolin, who animates a Big Little Feelings podcasts. “For young children, often, this sentence lacks precision. It does not mean much.” Another specialist confirms : “When you follow your child everywhere and you tell him:” Be careful, be careful, be careful “, suddenly, when there is a hot stove or a car arrives, he ignores you every time”.
The specialists recommend instead of specifying the type of risk, for example: “Be careful where you put your feet, there is a hole”, “be well with your hands if you don’t want to fall“, or”Look how close to the edge, get rid of it. “.. sentences that allow the child to instantly understand that there is a danger and above all, what it is. In a completely different register, another tip has the merit of working and it was Anna, a mother, who proved it to us during a family walk.
We met her in a park and his son Léo, eight, laughed with his boyfriend by advancing in scooter. At that time, the mother saw a huge dog arriving, straight on him. Even if he seems harmless and he was accompanied by his master, it is better to remain vigilant. “So that my son remains calm, without shouting, nor to make the dog, because one cannot predict reactions, a single word allows me to control this type of danger at a distance“, She confides to us. A tip she also uses when a bee approaches too close, or when you have to stop before crossing the road. The magic word?”Statue !“Immediately, his son Léo stops:”We have set up this “game” by explaining to him that as soon as mom would pronounce this word, even in the street, it would immediately be necessary to do the statue and no longer move until I allow it to walk again“Explains Anna.
A good alternative to the word “attention” which is a little used at allvice. Here, the word “statue” being synonymous with immobility, the child directly understands what he has to do. And that does not then prevent him from explaining the risks and dangers other than by this simple word. In any case, Anna “hardly says” be careful! “To her son.
