'But I'm....' 'I'm just'

[needalittleL]

Our daughter is 5. Bright, funny etc but she absolutely can not do something first time.

It can be something menial like 'put your shoes on' or a larger task like 'tidy your room' it is almost always replied with 'I'm just....' or 'no, because' or 'but i'm' even if she isn't doing anything. It's driving me a little crazy and I don't know what to do.

We've tried repeating ourselves calmly. It gets to about 10 times and then she'll do it.

At parents evening a situation was described in the class. All the children has finished tidying up and were sitting on the matt. My child continued to keep picking up little bits of paper from the art table and putting them in the bin. The class room assistant said 'can you sit on the floor please X' and my child replied 'I'm just finishing this off' and the classroom assistant replied with 'all your friends are waiting for you' and my child again said 'but I'm picking up paper!' In an exasperated way. The teacher had to intervene And asked my child to apologise to. The class room assistant as she had spoken to her in a rude way, which I agree with.

When I spoke with my child about it AGAIN she said 'but I......' and I had to say, 'No buts' and yet I'm not sure the message has sunk in!

What can I do. It's really irritating me and it means we take so so long to do anything as she is constantly making excuses about why we can't do what I'm asking her to to. Pleas help!

[user1490366054]

I make it into a game.
Bet i can tidy my part up quicker then you can tidy yours.
Works with my five your old son as he than has to prove that he can tidy up faster than mommy.

[AugustRose]

I make it into a game. Bet i can tidy my part up quicker then you can tidy yours.

I do this with DS2 who's just turned 6, he still hasn't realised what I'm doing and races around tidying up quicker than me

[ndo4000]

My DD1 is 9 and constantly says "yeah, but...". Drives me potty. We have a marble jar and they get marbles when I only have to ask for things once. They get a treat when the jar is full. Seems to help a bit?