What you could try instead is active listening. If your kids refuse to do something, there is probably a problem that they are having. Finding out what the problem is may not be easy, but it can be done if you try active listening. This means listening to what your kids are saying and repeating their words. This way, they feel like you understand them and they are more likely to talk to you about the problem. Once you help them solve the problem, they will stop ignoring you.
When you tell your kids what they are supposed to and when there is more than one thing, they sometimes feel overwhelmed and don’t do anything at all. Take thing slowly, tell them to do only one thing and when they do it, praise them and then tell them to do something else. This way, they will feel that they are being appreciated instead of being bossed around.
A common mistake that parents often make is always focusing on the things that their kids do wrong. This makes your kids less prone to listening because you react only to the bad things and they feel like there is no point in doing something good. When you praise them or even reward them when they do something good, they won’t have a problem with doing something like that again. In fact, they will probably do it more often, even if you don’t tell them to do it.
Keep in mind that the best way to make your kids listen is to actually listen to them. When you yell, they automatically shut down and do not hear a word you are saying. When you sit down with them, explain what they did wrong and why something bothers you, there is a strong chance that they will be sorry and that they will do the things that you asked them to in the first place.
Do not hesitate to act on these suggestions because not only do they work, but they will make you a better a parent. If you apply everything that was said, your kids will grow into responsible people who will be able to communicate well with the people around them.