Don’t Run!

This afternoon while I was in a restaurant with my sister and friend, I walked past a mom who was saying to her little boy who looked about five, “Don’t run!!”  It made me immediately think how often we tell our kids not to do such and such instead of what to do.  I didn’t keep looking to see if the little boy actually didn’t run but my feeling was that he was probably very tempted to run because the word that was emphasized was “run”.  It’s funny how this mom’s first thought was to say “Don’t run!” instead of “Please walk.”  So, here is something to try.  The next time you tell your children not to do something, instead instruct them on what you’d like them to do.