How Do I Get My Child to Do What I Want?

Ideas: YOU do the fun things (building an igloo with marshmallows, etc.) on your own, but with him right there where he will see you doing it. I have tried this again and again and man, it is a great way of getting kids interested in something. If you don't say ANYTHING to them ahead of time or even invite them to do it with you, it's usually a magnet. "What are you doing?" "I’m building an igloo with marshmallows and icing." "Can I do that too?" At times they sort of know that you're trying to hook them in and they'll look at you and you'll get, "I don't want to do that." "You don't have to do it, I’m doing it." And you continue about your work. They might not join in, but they will often hang around and watch, which can often be just as much of a learning experience as actually doing it.