Getting a former kidnapping negotiator’s advice on how to reason with your kids may seem a bit extreme, but Chris Voss knows what he’s talking about. The former FBI bigwig and author of Never Split the Difference certainly has some insights on getting unwilling people to cooperate, and a lot of parents will take any help they can get.
Voss says that certain negotiation techniques are helpful with kids past age 6, specifically asking open-ended questions that keep them talking and eventually wear them out. It’s the same thing kids do to wear their parents out, so turnabout is fair play.
With toddlers, Voss recommends taking them off their feet and putting them on a table or kitchen counter, where they’ll feel uncomfortable, but not threatened. This gives you, the grown-up, a natural advantage, and helps calm the child down so they’ll focus.
For more advice on negotiating with adults as well as children, pick up a copy of Voss’ book at Amazon.
—RealClearLife
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