How to Handle a Child's Nagging

Children refine the art of nagging at an early age. The associated press recently released the results of a survey where twelve and thirteen year old children were asked if they nag their parents to get what they want. Over ten percent of those surveyed admitted they ask their parent in excess of fifty times for products they see advertised or that catch their eye on store shelves. There are ways to deal successfully with your child's nagging to give you peace of mind while teaching your child a valuable life lesson.

Instructions

1. Avoid non-answers when answering your child. When your child asks you to purchase a toy, item of clothing, to take him to a fast food restaurant, etc. give him a yes or no answer and try to avoid "maybe, we'll see, and I don't know" answers. This will encourage your child to use nagging or begging to get the response he wants.When you say no to a request from your child and they begin begging in an attempt to wear you down and get what they want, let your child know that nagging is not going to change your mind, that your answer will still be no.

2. Give your child a reason for the "no" answer whether that reason is because of a lack of funds, because you feel she has too much, the price is too high, or you don't feel she needs the item.If your child persists with the nagging, tell them you gave them your answer and that the discussion is over. You cannot win an argument with a child so the best approach is to remove yourself from your child's presence after letting them know the discussion is over. Or, have your child leave the room if all they are going to do is nag.

3. Do not allow your child to nag in the store. Often your child may wait until you are in a store or a restaurant to begin nagging you for an item he wants. Children learn as toddlers and preschoolers that parents, grandparents or other adult family members do not want the attention of other shoppers focused on them. Therefore loud and continuous nagging and begging will usually get him what he wants.

4. Set guidelines for your child on how to behave in a public place. The best thing you can do is to tell your child that if her nagging persists and she cause other shoppers to stare, that you will simply leave the shopping cart where it is sitting with everything in it and you will take her and go home.If your child's nagging draws the attention of other shopper's, point out to your child that the shoppers are staring at him not you, because of his bad behavior.

5. Each time you give in to your child's nagging, you are giving her the message that nagging works and that nagging is the way to get what she wants. She will continue to nag you incessantly. Your child needs to learn that sometimes she has to wait and that some of the rewards in life do not always come at once.

Tips & Warnings

• You cannot win an argument with a child. Walk away from your child's nagging at home so it doesn't result in an argument.

• Marketers and advertisers target children because they will use any tactic to get parents to buy their products. Giving in to your child is giving into corporate blackmail.