here's the story...

(When kids are being difficult, pretending to give them a choice can help persuade them to do what you ask)

Preface: Teaching swimming lessons to a 4 year old girl.

Teacher: Okay, let’s blow bubbles!

Child: No, I don’t want to get my face wet.

Teacher: Alright, well you can blow bubbles or I can pour water over your hair

*blows bubbles angrily*

Teacher: Good Job! Let’s swim across the shallow end!

Child: No.

Teacher: Fine. You can swim across the shallow end or the deep end, your choice.

*swims across the shallow end*

Child: There.

Teacher: Okay! Now let’s do front and back stars!

Child: No, I don’t want to. 

Teacher: Fine, you can do your stars with my help or  by yourself.

Child: Fine, help me.

*Does stars*

Teacher: Okay Great! Next we practice jumping in!!

Child: I don’t want to jump in!

Teacher: Common, you love jumping in. 

Child: No.

Teacher: Alright, you can jump in or you can get your towel and stop playing with me!

*hops out of the pool, gets her towel*

Teacher: …Outwitted by a 4 year old.