Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: Develop your child's ability to sit still
• Part 2 of 2: Help Your Child Sit Still
• Tips

Young children tend to be energetic and easily distracted. When they need to sit quietly and behave well, they start to fidget, act up and feel uncomfortable. This is completely normal and should not be alarmed if your child's attention span appears to be less than a minute. However, in some situations you need to get your child to sit still. You will find many useful tips in this article!

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Develop your child's ability to sit still

1. 1 Let the child practice sitting still. Most toddlers have to learn this skill, but you can practice at home. First, have your toddler practice sitting on your lap for one minute. Challenge your child to sit as still as possible. Gradually increase the time until your child learns to sit still for a longer time.
   • Try not to entertain your child during these workouts. Games, tickling, singing, etc. contradict the purpose of the assignment: you are trying to force the child to learn to sit quietly without entertainment.
   • When your child makes progress in this exercise, you can move him to a chair. Sit next to your child and challenge him to sit still.
2. 2 Read aloud to your child. This is a calm, attentive activity that develops the child's ability to concentrate and sit still. Teach your toddler to pay attention to details by asking questions and showing interesting details in pictures.
3. 3 Encourage artistic activities. Provide your child with paper, crayons, and paints. This is an interesting activity for the baby, which also increases the attention span. Encourage your child to complete the painting before moving on to another activity.
   • It is best to take part in these activities with your child at first. Your attention can make your child focus on artistic activities for a longer period of time. As he becomes more focused and attentive, you can give him freedom of action and observe from the side.
4. 4 Play calm games that need attention. Try to get your child to play bricks, puzzles, and other non-physical activities. These games help toddlers develop memory, fine motor skills, motor coordination and the ability to sit still.
5. 5 Bring peaceful moments into your family's daily routine. Organize quiet activities regularly, with all family members sitting quietly together.This can be a moment before a meal, or a designated time for quiet reading. If a child sees how his parents and siblings model appropriate behavior, he learns faster.
6. 6 Use your meal as a practice. Young children should learn to sit quietly at the table while eating. Let your child know that running while eating is unacceptable, that he must sit still, and that he will only be able to get up from the table and return to play after he has finished eating. Because meals are so regular, they provide a great opportunity for your child to practice the skills they need.
   • Lead by example with your meals. When dining with your family, don't get up to answer phone calls or check what's on TV.
   • You can allow your child to eat with a doll or teddy bear. Tell your child that the doll or bear should not be jumping all over the table.
7. 7 Reward the child's efforts. When the baby does an excellent job with the difficult task of sitting still or concentrating attention, be sure to praise him, and do not limit yourself to general phrases, but make the praise specific. You can offer a small reward - a piece of chocolate, a walk in the park - for particularly good behavior.

Part 2 of 2: Help Your Child Sit Still

1. 1 Prepare your child. Prepare your child in advance for a situation where he will have to sit still. Explain to your child what the situation will be and what behavior is expected of him. Typical situations include:
   • A restaurant. Good table behavior is even more essential in a restaurant than at home. Don't expect miracles - choose a restaurant that is suitable for families with small children - but explain to your toddler that he needs to sit still and behave himself.
   • Salon. If your little one is spinning, fidgeting and jumping, it will be very difficult for him to get a good haircut. Explain this to your child in advance, and tell him to sit still and look at himself in the mirror.
   • Medical examinations. Children should sit still during medical examinations, especially for blood tests and other procedures. Prepare your child in advance. During the examination or procedure, try to keep the child occupied. Distract him by pointing out colorful paintings or drawings and use your imagination: a drop of blood could be a ladybug or raspberry juice.
   • Church, concerts and theater performances. Again, prepare your child well in advance. However, keep in mind that your child may not be able to sit through the entire church service or the entire concert. Plan to take short breaks, go outside with your child so that he gives a release of his energy.
2. 2 Make sure your child's basic needs are met. You cannot expect a hungry, thirsty, exhausted, or otherwise uncomfortable toddler to sit still and behave impeccably; you have no chance of success.
3. 3 Distract the child. When your child needs to sit quietly in place, whether during meals or at a doctor's appointment, try to distract him. Draw the child's attention to a picture on the wall, a reflection in a mirror, a silly song or story, etc. Bring his favorite toys, picture books and food with you if needed.
   • On rare occasions, you can use a cartoon or electronic device. This can help when you really need your child to sit still for a while - for example, in the doctor's office or at the hairdresser. But don’t use this strategy too often: you’ll only teach your child to "switch off" in front of the screen.
4. 4 Dress your child according to the activity. When your toddler is running and playing, you can wear casual clothes and sneakers. In a situation that calls for impeccable behavior, change your child's clothes to reflect your expectations. Teach your child to recognize the difference.
   • Do not wear tight, uncomfortable, or restrictive clothing on your baby. This can sideways you, and the child will become even more restless than usual.
5. 5 Be the child's authority. Children have the right to play and enjoy a carefree childhood, but you still need to be in control of the situation. Remember that you are making the rules and you should expect your child to respect them.
   • At the same time, don't expect too much. Do not punish the kid for the fact that he could not calmly sit out an hour-long church service; it's not fair. But at the same time, think about soft, age-appropriate punishment for bad behavior.
6. 6 Give your child a choice. Although you are the child's authority, you can still give him some control over the situation. Let the baby make certain decisions. Will he sit on your lap or in a chair? Does he want apple slices or cheese cubes? Letting your child make choices will give them a sense of independence and control.
7. 7 Praise good behavior. Show your baby that you are proud of him when he sits calmly and behaves well.

Tips

• With babies, hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. Have a contingency plan in case your child refuses to sit still and behave well.
• Consistency is important. If you occasionally allow your child to run around the table while eating or jumping in a chair during a concert, he will try to do so all the time. Try to apply certain rules and restrictions in certain situations without exception.