I HATE the phrase "I Can't"
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I HATE the phrase "I Can't"
| Thu, 04-14-2005 - 9:35pm |
My two year old daughter has gotten in the habit of saying I can't. She says it about everything!!!! I don't know how to get her to stop. I may not be the most positive person in the worl, but I try and I want her to try. She to young to have that kind of outlook already. I try to get her to say things like I don't want to or I need help instead of I can't. I'm also trying to not say it myself. I don't want her to feel defeated quite yet. I was sorta kiding, what I really mean is at all. She's so smart and creative and strong minded. I want to mold those things so she can grow. She's only a baby and already holding herself back.
CHristy

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Where did she hear it/learn it in the first place?
Blessings,
Gypsy
)O(
You guys are so funny! This is not a big deal, nothing to indicate a future pessimist or defeatist. She's TWO! It's just a phase! Both my kids (and from what my friends say, most of their kids too) have gone thru this...it's like the "no" phase.
Sure, be positive, redirect, that sort of thing, but don't worry about long-term issues and spiritual downfalls. She's a kid, experimenting to see what she can get away with, what your reactions will be - they all do this sort of thing, it's part of learning how to exist!
Hugs, it IS frustrating, though!
I just want to repeat what another poster has said, she's only 2!! Firstly, they really don't understand the meaning behind most of what they say, and she's young enough to make it a positive.
When my ds was 3, he would say the same thing about everything, we knocked it up to me doing everything for him and he was lazy, lol.
(This is about me and my ds, no I'm not calling your dd lazy, I'm providing you with a story about experience)
Any who, he was a huge fan of Blues Clues, and when he would say, I can't, I'd sing, You can do, anything, that you wanna do. It always put a smile on his face, and he'd actually go do what ever it was. Not sure if your dd is into Dora, but my 3 year old is, and Dora is such a positive female, she can do anything!!! Thats what we tell our 3 year old, who also refuses to do anything for herself, lol.
I hope this helps ((hugs))
Try explaining it to her like this....
I had a teacher (6th grade, Miss Johnson) who told us this, and it has stuck with me for 20+ years.
Shyla
"When you say "I can't" what you really mean is "I won't". "
I like this, too! :)) Also, I'm fond of this one, about when people say they'll "try:"
"Don't try; DO!"
"Try" gets them off the hook. Non-commital. To me when people say that, it tells me they don't intend to do so, so they leave themselves wiggle room...
Gypsy
Blessings,
Gypsy
)O(
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