What’s the difference in “no” and “stop”

[Anonymous]

I am a degree in early childhood education and elementary education and I completely understand that using “no” too frequently can be problematic. Kids, especially toddlers, do better when you tell them what to instead of course.

My sister has a toddler(my kids are older) and my nephew was starting to chew on the blender cord and so I gently removed it from his mouth and said “no.” She immediately yelled at me and said they don’t use “no” they only use “stop.” Is this a new? I’m confused what the difference in no and stop would be at this age??

[Anonymous]

Well "no" is "do not do what you are fixin' to do," and "stop" is "you need to not be doing what you are already doing."

So technically there is a difference. Not sure a toddler is going to get that distinction though.

[Anonymous]

It's a distinction without a difference. Your sister is nuts.

[Anonymous]

No is negative.

[Anonymous]

To me, "no" would be "this is not a thing you should ever do" and "stop" would be "don't do this thing right now".

Like if my kid was running ahead of me on the sidewalk, and they got as far as I was comfortable with, and I wanted them to wait for me to catch up, I'd say "stop". If my kid was talking with their hands at the table, and I could foresee the milk spilling, I'd say "stop" so we could pause and move the milk.

I say "no" if it's not a thing I would ever want them to do. So biting electric cords, I'd say "no". I guess because "no" means "you're doing something you shouldn't do", it's a little more like a scolding, but I didn't avoid it when my kids were little.

I'm not saying this is how other people need to do this, just saying how I use the words.

[Anonymous]

sounds like the latest trendy parenting nonsense

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No is negative.

Stop is positive?

[Anonymous]

lol there is no difference....

i teach parent management training all day- we use positive opposites (please do xyz) but yes in an unsafe situation appropriate to say "stop" eating the cord.

[Anonymous]

If a toddler has a blender cord in their mouth I’d say nothing and just redirect while I contemplate to myself how the kid got on the counter and where the blender’s new home will be.

[Anonymous]

Who cares? It’s your sister’s kid, not yours

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a degree in early childhood education and elementary education and I completely understand that using “no” too frequently can be problematic. Kids, especially toddlers, do better when you tell them what to instead of course.

My sister has a toddler(my kids are older) and my nephew was starting to chew on the blender cord and so I gently removed it from his mouth and said “no.” She immediately yelled at me and said they don’t use “no” they only use “stop.” Is this a new? I’m confused what the difference in no and stop would be at this age??

In my house we don't yell. That's much more important than "no" vs "stop". But, as a matter of grammar and diction, "stop" is a better in the situation you described.

Better would be a complete sentence, so the toddler could learn what your problem was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who cares? It’s your sister’s kid, not yours

It's OP's neice.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like OP's sister is a stressed out FTM. OP, she shouldn't have yelled at you and that sounds really annoying. Since she is the child's parent you should try to respect her preferences with regards to him to the extent that you can, and don't expend energy trying to understand the basis for those preferences (there is none).

[Anonymous]

This is fake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who cares? It’s your sister’s kid, not yours

It's OP's neice.

So again…who cares? It is OPs sisters kid, not OPs