Protect your time; say no
Recognize that your time is already committed by your own priorities, and decline the requests that would quietly overwrite them.
Start with a conversation
Before day one, sit down together and show your child this sheet. Make it a team thing you’re doing with them, not to them.
- Name it — “This week we’re learning Protect your time; say no.”
- Ask first — “Tell me what you already know about Protect your time; say no.”
- Set the deal — a little every day for two weeks, and you both color a box each time.
Both adults agree — same script, every day
Say it often — redirect in the moment
Engaging them directly, again and again, is what gets you there faster. Keep these on your tongue all week.
- “Remember — this week we’re working on Protect your time; say no.”
- “Remember Protect your time; say no? Tell me what you know about it.”
- “What did we practice yesterday? Show me.”