Are you tired of hearing your own voice saying the same things over and over and over? "Don't touch that. I said, 'Don't touch that.' Boy, DON'T touch that! Oh, now look what you've done!"
How do you get your kids to listen first time, so that when you give them an instruction, like "Ok, let's go. Say goodbye!" they jump up, say goodbye, and head for the car? Sounds nice, doesn't it?
Your children need to know you mean business when you speak. It needs to be quite clear to them when you are making a suggestion, such as "Arn't you cold? Why don't you put a jersey on?" and when you are instructing them to obey, such as "I'd like you to go and put a jersey on, please."
Whether you change your wording, change your tone, or change your body language, there needs to be something specific that your kids know means that you'd like obedience, and you'd like it immediately. No time for questions and arguments.
Once you have decided (yes, decided - it needs to be intentional) what you're going to do to help your children know that you're giving an instruction, then be consistent with implementing it… and with demanding obedience.
Demanding obedience means deciding on a pre-discussed consequence for disobedience, and making sure to implement it EVERY time your clear instruction is not acted upon. Sound harsh? Find out why consistent discipline is the kindest and most loving form there is!
It is important to note that delayed obedience is disobedience. Playing for 30 more seconds when being told to get up and say goodbye is not what you're asking. You're asking them to jump up now, and you're asking them in such a way (with your serious voice, or your raised eye brow etc) that they know you're not kidding or gently suggesting. So they know exactly what is expected of them and they need to respond immediately.
Counting to 3 is not necessary. Repeating your request is not necessary. As much leeway as you give them, that much they will take. If you discipline them for not jumping up now, they will learn to jump up now. If you only discipline them when they don't jump up after a count to 3, or a second or third request, you can be sure that the boundary will be set as far as they can take it. So decide on your boundaries, and then stick to them consistently. Here's to immediate obedience - what a blessing!