Distracting an older child
Eventually distraction stops working, or it becomes bribery. An older child can figure it out. Eventually they will discover that their defiance is a bargaining tool. They are bound to get something out of the deal. The problem is that you can’t continue this forever. And your child’s future boss or spouse won’t be willing to.
Distraction uses cleverness and mental force instead of physical force or moral force. What is the difference, really, between exercising force by physical means or by mental means? Is either one more respectful of the child than the other? Is either one less forceful?
My wife asked me at breakfast about distraction. She brought it up, she didn’t know I was writing about it. She asked, isn’t everything distraction? Choosing to do something good instead of something bad?
What do you think?
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