Pro Parenting Tip: KISS (Keep it short & simple)

Jane, have you finished your English assignment yet? When is it due? Friday? I don’t want to get another text from your teacher telling me it’s late.

Oh, and don’t forget you have practice tonight, we have to leave at 5PM on the dot, not a minute later because I need to drop you off and get back in time for my meeting. You know how important it is for me to make that meeting. I can't be late.

And what's with that huge pile of dirty clothes on your floor? Gross. If you need clean underwear, you need to put your clothes in the laundry room. I don't think it's too much to ask. It's only, what, 5 feet down the hall...

Later that day...

Jane, come on, we're running late for practice! I told you I had to be back in time for my meeting. What are you doing? Clearly, it's not picking up your clothes or finishing up your English assignment. How many times do I have to tell you to get that done?

Why can't our teens just do what we ask?!

BECAUSE... The teen brain is still under construction 🚧.

It can get overloaded quickly.

It isn’t as efficient at organizing and prioritizing information as the adult brain.

When you provide too much information at once, you are setting them up to forget everything you’re telling them.

You can almost see your teen start to short circuit.

If you feel like you must keep asking your teen to do the same thing over and over again, you may need to shorten and simplify your message.

Use as few words as possible.

Get right to the point.

Only make ONE point at a time.

Leave out unessential information and commentary.

Here’s what it could look like:

Jane, yes or no, are you on target to get your English assignment turned in on time? Let me know if you need help.

Later in the day… Jane, remember, we've got to leave by 5PM for practice tonight. Are you confident you can make that?

Later in the day…Jane, just to let you know, if you want me to wash your clothes, I need them in the laundry room in the next 5 minutes.

Later in the day… Jane, I'll meet you in the car in 10 minutes to go to practice.

THE BOTTOM LINE

When you Keep It Short and Simple, you'll save a lot of time and aggravation in the long run!