Theory vs practical



Cayen is a kid with a mind of his own. Hence, efforts to stop him by saying "No" usually end up futile. 

So ever since a successful try at this alternative method, I have been using the questioning way to get him to be more obedient. 

Setting: he's trying to snatch my iPhone.

I pointed to his toy 1 and asked him , is this yours ? He said "no?" , I exclaimed "yes, it's Cayen!!"

Pointed to toy 2, 3, 4 .. And asked him the same question to which he started to say "yes" after a while. And he was quite gleeful that so many things belong to him . Finally, I asked him if the iPhone is his, he said "mama!" 

That's how he got the concept of what's his and what's mine.

Using this method, I tried to tackle his problem of climbing dangerously on stools in the house. 

Me: can you climb on a chair? (I point to chair)
cayen : no?
Me: can you climb on the stool? (I point to stool)
Cayen: no?
Me: can you climb onto the TV console? 
Cayen: no?
Me: can you climb onto the sofa?
Cayen: pauses a sec and says yes (cox we usually let him)
Me: can you climb a mountain ?
cayen: yes
Me: can you climb in the playground?
Cayen : yes 

I was quite surprised he got the answers perfectly. However, his theory is stronger than practical because after a while he started to climb again. 

And then I have to repeat the whole dialogue all over again. It's long winded but it works. 

Next I tried to tackle the recent problem of pouring his water and throwing his bottle on the floor. 

So here goes: 

Me: can you pour the water ?
Cayen: no ... 
Me: 你可不可以倒水?（to make sure he really understands me)
Cayen: no..
Me: can you throw ? 
Cayen: yes. 
Me: no! Ok, can you throw ?
Cayen: no... 
Me: ok, 你慢慢放 
Cayen: (do the 慢慢放 action)
Me: satisfied 

I was quite pleased that he understood the concept. But almost immediately he did the pouring and throwing again. 

Alas, his theory is much better than practical. 

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