Why Do Children Sometimes Refuse to Cooperate?

 The preschool years are a time when children are learning how to express themselves and interact with others. Their refusal to cooperate is not always a deliberate refusal to follow your directions, but may be due to other reasons.
Children May:

• Need a warning that you expect them to stop the activity to comply with your request.
• Might be thinking about something else and not hear the request.
• May not clearly understand your request.
• Might be more used to receiving negative attention (e.g., yelling, scolding) and may refuse the request to get attention.

By thinking about why your child may not be responding to you, allows you to determine what your next step should be.

Give a warning before making a request. If your child has a disability provide a concrete cue that shows your child what you want him/her to do.

Michelle Macon, Program Coordinator