When my kids were younger, I found that the most useful line in establishing consistent practice routines was: “Would you like to practice now or 10 minutes from now?”
This simple line accomplishes several things:
1) Lets kids know that you respect that they might have something else they’re in the middle of which may be important for them t
o come to completion with before they stop and move on.
2) Makes it clear that you’re assuming practice will happen. It’s not a choice, not something that they have the option of deciding and thereby either feeling guilty about or resentful of feeling that they’re guilt-tripped into doing – it just simply is part of what’s normal and assumed.
3) Makes it clear that there’s a real time that practice is expected – not just something loosely defined that you can postpone indefinitely and then feel guilty about not doing.
4) Allows you to set the timer and go about your own business, rather than hovering and being frustrated, or annoyed that your child didn’t cooperate.
