As a huge fan of "The Cosby Show," I'm reminded of the scene in the first episode where Cliff (Bill Cosby) tells Rudy, his youngest daughter on the show, to "come here" and she insists on staying where she's at. This is definitely an instance in which art imitates life. If you have a toddler, you've probably experienced this situation yourself more than once. If you don't want that to keep happening, here are some ways you can convince your toddler to "come here" and listen to your other commands with only a minimal amount of fuss on their part and yours.

1. Be clear - Sometimes our young children don't listen to us because our instructions aren't clear. We might think we're being clear, but we have to remember they have a different language than we do.
   
   
2. Say things with a firm tone without yelling - When you sound like you mean business, you toddler is more likely to listen and do what you say. There is a point, however, at which your tone could scare your toddler. So when you say "come here" in a scary voice, they might be more afraid to do what you say instead of simply staying away. There's a fine line, but mastering that difference could save you a great deal of frustration.
   
   
3. Avoid threatening statements - How many times have you said something like, "If I catch you doing that one more time..." or "What's your problem?" Statements like these cause children to tune out and stop listening. It even belittles them and makes them feel stupid. Instead, use phrases like, "Please don't do that" or "You know that's against our rules." Speaking in a calm and rational manner will keep their attention longer and make them think about what they are doing.
   
   
4. Speak in short statements - Just like adults, children will stop listening the minute it sounds like they're being lectured. That's why it's important to get your point across in the fewest number of words possible while still being clear. This will probably take some practice, but it's an essential quality to keep your toddler's attention when you need it.
   
   
5. Explain the consequences of their actions - If your child refuses to do what you say, explain the consequences of not listening. Whether it's a punishment or something that affects their health, be sure they understand what will happen if they ignore you. Sometimes they simply don't listen because they don't know that something negative will happen otherwise.
   
   
6. Command respect - Many dads want to be their toddler's friend instead of their parent. They don't want to be hated by their toddler. But this causes young children to lose respect for you as a dad. While it's important to respect your toddler's thoughts, feelings and emotions, it's also important to be firm and command respect from them. After all, you are their most prominent authority figure. If they don't learn to respect you, who will they respect?
   
   
7. Stoop down to their level - Toddlers are much more likely to listen to you when you look them in the eyes. Depending on how old you are, it might be difficult to squat or kneel down to their level. If it helps, you can place them on a step or sit them on a counter so you're face-to-face.
   
   
8. Keep your word - If you have a habit of breaking promises, why should your toddler believe you when you make a promise just so they'll listen to you? If you make a compromise or make a deal with your toddler, stick to it. Otherwise, they'll simply do what they want to do because your promise has lost its weight and negotiating power with them.

Teaching your child to "come here" and do other things you say can be difficult at times. But sometimes, the problem comes from our end. To keep these problems to a minimum, it's essential to learn how to communicate effective with your toddler at their level and in ways that they understand. It isn't as hard as you think if you can just put yourself in their situation.