I'm going to count to 5!

[davidla]

Our son is almost 6 and if I want him to do something quickly I will tell him that I will count to 5 and he needs to have done it by then.
I'm sure lots of you do this as well.
The good thing is, he always does it before I get to 5.
The weird thing is because he always does it on time, I have no idea what I would do if he didn't manage it!
At what age does this trick stop working ?

Same here! I count to 3, not 5, and it still works...ds is nearly 9 now!

The longer it continues to work, the better

We say we'll take his fave toy off him. He tested me once, but only the once...
(hope I haven't jinxed myself here. can always count to ten, I suppose!!)

1-2-3- Magic. It's a very famous child behaviour plan written by Dr Phelan (think that's his name?) who has a son dx ADHD (I think the idea originally came from Ireland many years before he claimed it though). It usually works up to the age of 12. If they have not done what you've asked by your count to 3 or 5, you give them a minutes 'time out' for every year of their life ie: your son would get 6 minutes time out iyswim. Never in their bedroom, somewhere you can see them (bottom stair or a chair). If they still do not comply with the 6 minutes out, you add another 5 automatically. It sounds tiring, but believe me, if implemented, it only takes a week for them to realise you mean business

Yes I worry about this to!...gonna need a back up plan

Excellent - so I have another 3-6 years of doing this and to think up another plan!