There’s a good chance you heard your parents say, “You’d better stop crying or I’ll give you something to cry about.” We knew better than to whine. Of course, today is different. We no longer threaten our children with empty (or not so empty) promises of a butt whooping. So how do you handle a child that constantly whines? Let’s take a closer look at how to get your kids to stop whining.
Related: 5 Things Every Son Needs to Hear From His Dad
5 Tips to Help Your Kid Stop Whining
Ignore It
Pop on those headphones and let your child whine to his heart’s content. Eventually, your child will get the idea that whining will not get him what he wants. Of course, you don’t want to ignore your child if he is whining for a good reason, like feeling unwell. But if he’s insisting on a cookie before dinner, let him go ahead and get it out of his system.
Explain to Your Child What Asking Nicely Means
Teach your child how to ask for something nicely. It’s important your child learns the simple phrase, “May I, please…” This is how your child should ask for something. If he comes to you whining about wanting something, explain that won’t work. If he can’t ask for something nicely, he won’t get it.
Model Good Behavior
Your child isn’t a grown up, obviously, but as the adults in their lives, we should model good behavior. He needs to understand that he won’t always get what he wants. Encourage him by setting a good example. The last thing you want is for your child to see you whining to your wife when she says you can’t go fishing because you’ve got a family engagement.
Praise Your Child for Acting Appropriately
When your child asks nicely for something within reason, praise him and consider his request. If your child comes to you whining, the answer should be a firm no. You don’t want your child to get the impression that whining will help him get what he wants.
Tough It Out
Whining is unfortunately part of childhood. As my father-in-law wisely told me once, “Kids are just little people with big problems.” Even adults (myself included) feel a little whiny now and then. Do what you can to discourage the behavior and praise your child for good behavior. If your child is having a bad day, do what you can to make his day better. Make sure he gets his nap and his snack. This can go a long way in helping your child to stop whining.
Children whine, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to work on that behavior. There are ways to get your kids to stop whining. Whether you ignore the behavior or encourage him to act more politely, you can stop the whining.