They taught me so thoroughly that to this day I very rarely make commitments for the future. Stalling is a tactic children seem to know by instinct. When it's time to get ready for bed, or quit playing and go home, there is always one more thing that has to be done first. They learn to use this tactic because they are usually rewarded by a few more minutes of play. Sometimes they can stretch it to another half hour, or even longer.
Children learn early about the power of the potty.
They know the possibility of a mess on the floor is a sure way to get a parent's attention. We were amused one day, watching a little girl about four having lunch with her father in a restaurant. They had been there for some time, and she had finished eating. She chatted on for a while without getting much response from her father. Then she got down and began walking around the table, still chattering.