How do you make a nearly 5 year old understand how important it is to listen?!

[solooovely]

So how do I make my nearly 5yo listen to me? She seems to think it's optional when I tell her to get it's time to go upstairs for a bath for example (she loves baths that's not the problem) or to change her clothes etc. She just always seems to be away with the fairies. It is a bit like she's too busy playing, a bit like she's just not listening, and a bit like she just doesn't even hear me. Although she will say that she's coming (so I know she has heard) but will then carry on playing or get distracted by something else on the way to the stairs.

Seriously it's driving me insane and I think I take it a bit personally and it makes me angry

Aré you me???

Literally running out the doro but Will come baca later.. And hopefully somebody Will have some novel ideas.

I call my dd to me and get her face to face and talk gently to her giving here a few word instructions at a time, ie, tidy toys away then back to her, time to get undressed, then time to get in bath etc etc. that way she is engaged and not likely to miss the key words of a long instruction.

often my dd ignores me, so I then ignore her, when she creates about this I point out that is what she has just done to me, then tell her its my turn to talk and she must listen then its her turn to talk and the I will listen.

some times they are so engrosed with what they are doing they dont actauly take in what is being said to them. its helpfull to break it down into smaller chunks.

Touch them on the shoulder to get their attention and make eye contact before asking them to do anything. Usually a phase unless underlying hearing issue. I also play the 'ignoring' game which annoys the hell out of my kids. I'll turn the tv off if they carry on watching when I've asked them to do something. I've also threatened to cut the plug off with scissors '1-2-3 Magic' is great for getting results. We've also got a timer which they love to race against - use it for getting dressed, tidying room, getting shoes coat, bag for school etc. I just got sick of my own voice and knew they had 'checked out' when they heard it ... a bit of a 'white noise' really Mind you, ds2 has ADHD so I've become a bit of an expert........