Little ones hear the word "No!" a lot. So much in fact that it may become useless in danger situations - i.e your toddler has started to run into the street. The best way to make the word no work for you, is to use it less. Other options...
You can also say your child's name, which will get his attention. You can try saying the actual word that fits the situation. For example, if your toddler is about to touch the oven, say, "Billy, that's hot!" You can use a form of yes most of the time. There are situations that call for an immediate "NO" like for a baby who has grabbed a cleaner, a toddler who gets on his trike sans helmet, or a little one stuffing five huge marshmallows into his mouth. However, when you use no all the time, no matter the situation, it loses it's oomph. If your little one wants to read a story, and you're cooking dinner, instead of saying no, use a form of yes, such as, "Not right now, but later we sure can read that story." If your toddler wants candy, say, "Not right now, but you can have candy ________ (name a time)." Using a form of yes most of the time, is not only a very positive parenting technique, but it allows "NO!" to really mean no, and your child will take this word more seriously.
