Help with 4 YO Dillydallier

JCM

I know most kids dillydally at some point but my DD has made it into a fine art. It's driving me NUTS!  How can I get her to put her clothes on, eat breakfast/lunch/dinner, tidy up her toys, get ready for bed or do mostly anything without it taking an eternity?  She's always been like this but since she's a bit older I figured she would get better but it's just getting more and more frustrating.  How do you get your young children to get things done without taking ages?  I mean if I weren't constantly telling her she needs to "eat up" meal times would take over an hour. Pre-school's starting soon & I don't want to have to get her up and hour and a half before we have to head out the door! HELP!

sschwege

DD is younger than yours, but we have had a lot of luck using a timer.  So for example she told me right before nap she had to use the potty.  If she starts to Dilly Dally I set the timer for two minutes if she isn't sitting on the potty by then, well I guess you didn't have to go as bad as you claimed you did.  For toys, maybe say something like, "Feel free to keep all the toys you put away while the timer is going."  Whatever is left you put away and she can't have it back until you decide to take it out again.  We use our LeapPad Dog Violet as a timer.  It's great because it has 2, 5, and 10 minutes and the music plays while the timer is going.

alli2672

DH sets a timer for getting dressed.  He gives the kids two minutes to get their clothes on in the morning or to get their pajamas on. 

I count backward from 5.  I count very slowly.  If I get to number 1, and they still aren't dressed, then I will help them. 

I have no advice for eating.  I remember eating slowly as a kid.  I got an alarm when I was 6, and I would set it so that I would have time to eat before school.  I would also sit and eat dinner through dinner and would still be eating while my mom cleaned up the kitchen.  I never remember feeling bad or weird about it.   

sschwege

Meant to say, LeapFrog Violet.

Spin313

DS is very competitive, so he likes to do the whole "how fast can you do xyz.."

I would try random encouragement like, " I really liked how quickly you did xyz...I think you should..." (Get a sticker, pick the song on the way to school, get a penny for a your piggy bank, have extra outdoor time, etc). Not the same thing every time, and keep it sporatic.

Mrs.Hizzo

ExpectantSteelerFan said:

Set a timer and saying 'you do x by the time the bell rings or else (the food goes away, the toys go away, I dress you myself/you go out without clothes)', make it a race/game, or just leave her to finish in her own time but without your company.

Pretty much this. "Dinner goes away when the big hand reaches the 6, so if you're hungry, you need to eat it before then." "The car is leaving when the big hand reaches the three, and if you aren't dressed you'll need to go in your pajamas."