It is but normal for children to whine, but you can never deny that whining—especially the non-stop variety—can drive any parent crazy. Kids can whine about the simplest of things, especially when they’re overwhelmed. That alone should tell you that whining is a cry for help.
So how exactly can you make your kid stop whining? Definitely, a negative interaction with your child is out of the question. It will only serve to make the whining worse, not to mention force her to carry all those negative emotions with him or her for the rest of the day and even to the next. To get your child to stop whining without raising your voice or being all mad about it, you should:
1. Give your child the time of day
As mentioned earlier, whining is a plea for help, so you should give your child that help. You sit down with your child, ask him/her what’s wrong and basically let him/her know that you’re right there to hear what he/she has to say.
2. Keep calm and your head clear
Whining is often intended to get a rise out of you, but you must be very careful not to lash out, even if your child is crying, screaming, kicking or even biting you. A child that is acting out only wants attention from you, and you will basically be giving them the impression that whining is an effective way of getting that attention.
As stated in the previous item, you should sit down with your child and talk it out. However, if the tantrum doesn’t let up one bit, tell your child that you will not be able to talk unless he/she asks politely or stops hitting or biting. Also, telling the child you will only listen to what he/she has to say if he/she talks in a normal voice is also a good way of calming him/her down.
3. Try a little flexibility
If your child is having a fit because you’re telling him/her to drop whatever he’s/she’s doing so you can both go, maybe you should think about meeting halfway. Giving him/her a five-minute extension shows some flexibility on your part. It would also impress upon your child that a compromise is so much better than whining non-stop.
4. Let your child cry
Many parents express frustration over a child’s incessant crying when whining. Instead of taking that frustration out on the child, why not just let him/her cry? Crying works practically the same way with adults. After a good cry, your child will feel so much better, and that means a better day for you too.
5. Pay more attention to their nap time or bed time
This is more of a preventive measure. A tired and sleepy child makes for a grumpy child. That means you have to make sure they get longer and more frequent periods of sleep. Also, you have to take your child’s sleeping schedule into consideration. If your child becomes unbearable in the early evening, it probably means they are asking you to tuck them in earlier. You’re the one who has to make the adjustments so your child gets the appropriate amount of sleep.
Whenever they whine, they are actually begging for self-regulation, and the only things that can give them that are your attention, your calm and of course, your love. Give your child all of them, and he/she will eventually be whining less, or even no more.
