When parents say their child "just doesn't listen," it's usually not defiance — it's development. Young children are still building the attention and impulse control needed to hear a direction and follow through.
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A few things to share with families:

Get attention first. Use the child's name, get to eye level, and remove distractions before giving a direction. Calling from the other room rarely works.

Make it a statement, not a question. "It's time to put your shoes on" lands differently than "Can you put your shoes on?" — even if they mean the same thing.

One direction at a time. Multi-step instructions are hard for young children to hold onto. Keep it simple and build from there.

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