Parent trick #10: COME HERE!

A child knows the difference between the come-here-because-you-need-to-pick-up-your-toys tone and the one that says, "Hey! Let's go get ice cream!" Sometimes I like to use the latter even if it is the first one.

They will be more responsive to your call if it doesn't necessarily mean they are in trouble. Call them over just to give them a big hug and tell them how much you love them. Watch them glow.
...Or watch them be annoyed that you interrupted their playing. :) Children can be pretty unpredictable, but it's worth trying. 

Try this:
"Hey, Merv, look." Put out both hands in fists for him to see. "Pick a hand." What kid isn't going to respond to that? Have some little prize in one (ie: a dime, a couple jelly beans, etc). If it's just a spur of the moment thing like they don't want to come to you when you are trying to get out the door, you can still use the "pick a hand" trick. When they have tried each hand you could cup their little face in your hands and smother them with kisses. Proceed to put on their shoes and head out the door.

Parent tip # 42: Like/ dislike

My kids don't really like to come when they are called.

But, they do like to pretend they are animals.

So, I devised this tactic:
"Marla, do you want to hop to me like a bunny or run to me like a puppy?....
Oh! Good job, little puppy! That was very fast!

Wala!

Parent trick # 6: Easy way to teach the ABC's and 1,2,3's

Sing the ABC's while washing hands and count with your child at the end of a time out in order to get out.

Easy peasy lemon squeesy.

Parent trick # 15: DON'T picture a pink giraffe.

You just pictured a pink giraffe, didn't you?

Wet paint. Don't touch.
There is just something about telling someone to not do something that just begs them to do it. It almost becomes a dare.

"Don't stand on the table!" Sound familiar?
Next time, try this: "Put your feet on the floor, please."

Old way: "Stop pulling her hair!"
New way: "Please keep your hands to yourself" or to make it more fun, give them some simple, silly challenge like this, "Hey Cedrick, can you give yourself high five?" Or more difficult if they could use a bigger distraction: "Cedrick, do you think you could run around the outside of the house 5 times before I finish these dishes?"

(Side note, you could start lecturing about how it's not safe to stand on a table or all about how it's not nice to tease your sister, but don't they already know that? Might as well save yourself the fight.)

Much better results. Less stress.