How to Deal With a Whining Child
"But Mommmmmyyyy, I waaaant it." For most parents the sound of a whining child is the equivalent to fingernails dragging on a chalkboard or the whir of a dentist's drill. In just a few short steps, you'll learn how to stop your child's whining (or at least make it less painful).
- Difficulty:
- Challenging
Instructions
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1
Consider the source. Does your child whine during certain times of the day? Perhaps they are whining because they are overly tired or hungry. Before you can effectively fix the behavior, you'll want to know if there could be underlying factors involved as well.
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2
Define the whine. Even though your child may act like a professional whiner, they may not even know what the term means. Demonstrate to them what a normal voice is compared to a whining voice. That way, when you ask them to stop whining, you can be assured that they understand what you are talking about.
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3
Give your child undivided attention. Ask your child to make their request in a normal tone. When they do, show them that you will listen and respond to them when they behave appropriately.
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4
Find a whining place. If all else fails and your child continues to whine, find a place (like their bedroom) where both of you can get a bit of a break.
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Tips & Warnings
Stay firm and don't cave into whining.
Use positive reinforcement and lots of praise.
Try a "whine jar" for older children. Ask them to drop a quarter into the jar each time they whine.
Encourage your children to write down their thoughts. If they can't seem to communicate without whining, have them keep a journal of their feelings or write you a note. Let them know that you will listen to anything that they decide to jot down.
