A friend recently  told me that when she talked to her son, he acted like he didn’t hear her.  She spoke a little louder and he still ignored her.  She lost her temper and walked off angry.

I was wondering what I would have done in this situation.  The best thing to do would be to walk up next to him and give him a light tap on the shoulder, smile at him, and repeat what you said.  They might not like it, but they will find it hard to ignore you.  It’s not necessary to tap them on the shoulder.  You could put your hand on his arm or just get close enough to touch him in some way.

Again, the rule is to stay engaged.

There is always the possibility they will walk off when you approach, but chances are they won’t.  If they do, keep contact with them, follow them wherever they go,  and they’ll probably start laughing and you’ve won the battle.

Like always, none of this is fool-proof, but it gives a parent a place to start and a chance to adapt this method by using a little of their own creativity.