My Pet Peeve: Whining
Legacy signals
Legacy popularity: 1,389 legacy views
Decide what YOU will do! Not what you will try to make the child do! Once you have decided, call a family meeting and inform them.
Schedule a whining time. At that time EVERYONE whines for a full minute AT THE SAME TIME. It is great fun, we all end up laughing.
Use a non verbal hand signal. Decide at the family meeting what it looks like. Tell the kids that when you hear them whine (or they hear you whine) flash each other the signal. Agree that the signaler will engage in conversation once the other’s voice returns to normal pitch.
Ignore the whinee until a normal tone of voice is used.
Leave the room.
Insert ear plugs and hum. Have your child lay a gentle hand on your forearm when they are ready to speak respectfully.
Lay on the floor (to ground yourself). Feel the floor and look at the ceiling. Invite anybody who passes to join you in "feeling the floor". Once everyone is grounded sit up and start over.
Do the unexpected: Hug. Burst into Song. Laugh and say "That’s not going to work on me this time!" Or "Good try! Now, try it again,"
Say what you want your child to say, how you want them to say it: "Daddy, can I please have some milk?" Say what you want your child to say to the parent being whined at: "Mommy, may I have some milk please?" Ask for a hug, or say "I need a hug!"
Put it on the agenda for a family meeting.
Remember: When you child act's up he is saying I need your attention. Help your child feel special and heard and watch the magic begin!
Article author
About the Author
Further reading
Further Reading
Article
Sassy Kids: How to Deal with a Mouthy Child
Are you tired of disrespectful talk from your kids? Do your children respond with eye-rolling and sarcasm to everything you say? Most—if not all—kids go through phases when they are sassy, mouthy, or disrespectful. As a parent, it’s hard to know when to let it slide—and when to address the problem. James Lehman explains where to draw the line—and tells you how you can manage sassy talk in your home.
Related piece
Article
Child Discipline: Consequences and Effective Parenting
Remember how you felt when you brought your baby home from the hospital for the first time? When your child was an infant, you probably acknowledged that you were anxious and unsure of what you were doing at times—most new parents are. In my experience, those kinds of feelings continue as we raise our kids—we just stop expressing them to others.
Related piece
Article
The Greatest Lesson In Life
When you are at peace with having a baby or not having a baby, then what will be, will be. You will either have one (as you were supposed to) or you will not have one (as it was not meant to be). Accept the fact that God has a plan for your life, which may not include children. If you don’t ...
Related piece
Article
Managing Parental Expectations
One of the most challenging aspects of being a mom is managing the expectations of yourself and others. Motherhood is a world of compromise, flexibility and negotiations. It’s a balancing act between doing what you want to do and doing what you have to do.
Related piece