Time will tell...

A Crafty Shrink tip I recently recommended: use a timer to nag your kids instead of you. Whether it's to indicate when it's time to get off the computer, time to brush teeth, amount of time to wash their hands, etc.

The premise is that we all have an 'all done switch' in our brain. Our brain signals us when we are done using the potty, when we are done eating (because we are full), when we are done with the day and it's time to fall asleep. The idea is that sometimes, when a child is really into something (i.e. game) or avoiding something they don't want to do (i.e. wash hands for dinner), a timer acts as an external 'all-done switch' to nudge their brain into action. Consider explaining the rationale to your child - when they respond appropriately to the 'all done switch' timer, they get rewarded for helping their brain do it's job.

At the very least, it offers variety for the hundreds of prompts kids require.