toddler negotiation games ideas please

[johnd2]

Hi all, of course many of us know sometimes how hard it is to negotiate with toddlers on every single item of clothing, going to bed, walking home etc .etc... And we often end up giving up and taking over the task. But doing things under pressure is no fun so games are a great way for everyone to learn and have fun.

Does anyone have nice games to play to practice this skill on both sides? We are already doing things like "stop/go" (where anyone shouts stop and go while you're out walking and everyone does it), touching all the trees/lamp posts along the route (yes we look like idiots but it works), and simple matching board games. I'm sure there are loads of other ideas like simon says and the like but I'm opening it up to people suggestions from their experience! It's as much to help us learn as it is for our toddler. Thanks in advance!

A simple one we did was clothing "eating" them or a sibling/partner.
For example, dd not wanting to put her shoes on to go out "nom nom nom, I'm going to eat mummy's feet they are much more tasty than yours".
"Jacket is coming to eatttttt you!" Followed by being chased round the kitchen a couple of laps usually worked for us too. That or putting clothing on the wrong parts of the body, the more ridiculous the better. "Oh you better show me what part of the body a hat does go on, I just can't get it right!"

Not sure if that's what you are looking for but it's what sprung to mind!

Are you looking for actual games or more ways to get a toddler to do stuff? Personally I'd be interested in both (especially anything that gets the toddler back in the buggy after having too much fun in the park - I've been resorting to bribing with raisins which I suspect is not good parenting ). The other thing we do is get her to do X with her dolly. I have some great photos of baby swabbing dolly's nose with a cotton bud

Thanks for both your replies and yes we know a lot of the tricks you are supposed to use but it's hard to feel comfortable with doing that when you're stressed on a real task. So it is more like games that use the same parts of everyone's brains but doing a useless task with no real purpose. If that makes sense!

We play hide and seek when out walking if there are 2 adults...1 runs ahead to hide and toddler likes to find them...or she hides. We race up the stairs to bed, and sometimes I pretend to be a robot to brush her teeth.