Preparatory A (from 2+). Lesson 9

Let's learn how to always make a good impression on your child.

Toddlers–this group of children is at a special age. If they have the full attention of an adult, this makes them want to take off. Having learned to walk and run and opened up for themselves a whole world that needs to be explored, the little ones wants to rush headlong into it, running to wherever their eyes take them and touch everything their hands reach out for.

Every mother knows, that if she hasn't seen or heard their child, for even a couple of minutes, trouble is likely to be brewing in the house.

So, its not worth chasing after your toddler, to explain about music lessons to him. There's no point squatting down and look him in the eye.

In his short life the toddler has already managed to catch on to one important rule: if an adult wants something from you, they will look you in the eye and come down to your level. What an adult needs is always something you don't want: to go to bed, to give you boiled carrots or nasty medicine.

So, if you want to make a successful start to your lessons with toddlers, you need to remember the most important rule: if you want him to be drawn to you, you need to ignore him.

Talk on the phone or pretend talking on the phone. So while you are having your conversation, your child will quite quickly revert to to his usual toddler mode. He was promised some mysterious fun called 'music lessons,' but instead of that, again, he has to be present for a long and boring adult discussion.

In this context you immediately become part of the usual world of the toddler, when no-one is running after him, so he seeks the attention of adults, who are always busy with something else.

This is your moment. You must not miss it on any account! You can briefly glance at the child and speak into the air: 'Oh, I completely forgot to show you my kingdom–my realm. Here is my money, that I pay to people who work. And here is a treasure, that can be bought after the lesson.

This has to be done quite confidently, quickly and enthusiastically. Don't draw it out, or your toddler will have time to get bored and shift his focus to another direction.

It is not necessary to ask the toddler about the weather. You don't even have to ask him, if he wants to play with the cards or sing a song. While the toddler is thinking about, what he really wants or doesn't want, you are not having a lesson. You need to suggest he does something and start doing it enthusiastically yourself(!). Child is watching everything, is hearing everything and is taking it all in and if not at the first lesson, then at the second, he will quietly start getting involved with the task.

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