My 3 year old negotiator

My 3 year old son knows how to negotiate for what he wants. This isn't a surprise for most parents; kids seem programmed to recognize the rules of games and optimize within those rules. Yes, they break the rules too, but that also is part of growing up as a boy: finding your limits. But William is talented at the basic negotiation process. Here are three techniques I've seen him use, much to my astonishment and pride:

1. Make the first demand. This morning I got back from a run and found him wandering around the living room. He saw me and my drink and immediately said, "I want some Gatorade." Normally I would get him water or milk right off the bat, but he got me thinking about Gatorade. What's the harm in a little Gatorade in the morning, just a couple sips? I mean, it has electrolytes. Lesson: the entire negotiation swirled around the initial demand and eventually he got a half-sippy cup of Gatorade.
2. Use time as a stick, if you have no other hope. OK, it's really called "stalling." However, he can weaken my position if there are delay costs for me but not for him. Going to bed usually means the onset of defeat for a child. But the game's not over until he falls asleep. So he has an ever-widening array of tools to delay this final defeat: I want water, I need to go pee-pee, I want some music, I need my bear, can you tuck me in?, I want the door open, I'm scared (this last one tends to short-circuit negotiations).
3. Have viable alternatives. If you have alternatives to what is being negotiated, you have the ability to walk away, which is a powerful position, especially if you are in negotiation with someone who has fewer or even no viable alternatives. The other day I offered William some strawberries, but while the fridge was open he also saw that we had blueberries and raspberries (he gained information that I didn't want him to have). "No, I want blueberries." Blueberries are really fun to eat, and they are preferable to strawberries. "No, buddy, let's stick with strawberries for now." Some minor back-and-forth about this, but, frankly, strawberries are pretty good too. But to my surprise he just went back to the Gatorade I had poured for him earlier!
4. Be fearless. As far as William knows, a spanking is the absolute worst that can happen. Knowing this (and having experienced it and recovered) he likes to take risks and ask for things he normally wouldn't get.

My own parenting shortcomings aside, I am amazed at how kids seem to pick up on bargaining and other rules of the game. Conversely, it shows that negotiating with people is intuitive and easy enough for a child to figure out. If you find yourself in a negotiation, take a moment to imagine the rules of the game and you will be in a better position.