How Do You Get Neighborhood Children To Knock Before Entering?
• Be a friend. You start by socializing and joking with them. This gives you the opportunity to be open with the child and tell them whatever you want. So once you’re their friend, you can just say “Hey Julie, listen, you have to remember there’s a new rule in the house and that is you have to knock before you enter the house or enter any other room. Got it?” Now you can see how that is so much better than saying “Now get this, kid. You’re entering the house without knocking and it’s ticking us off. And next time you do that, I’m gonna pound the stuffing out of you, you little brat!” – This may scare the child, but outcomes aren’t very desirable. • Challenge them. You can tell them that you’ll give five butter fingers, or two packets of nerd ropes if they can come in the house knocking for a week. Or even better, offer to give them some cash. Kids love those bargains. • If the child isn’t doing it on purpose and they are just very forgetful, put up something on the door that reminds th
