Of all the things toddlers do to drive their parents up the wall, whining probably features in the top of the list. It is true that every toddler whines at one point or the other. But at times this whining really get out of hand when the toddler makes it a point to whine at practically every situation. In such cases, the parents need to figure out a way to stop it before it turns into a habit.
Reasons for whining:
In order to beat the habit of whining, one needs to find the root of this problem. Toddlers may whine for a number of reasons. They may whine when they are ill, tired or hungry or maybe they want something and are not getting it. They may be bored and will start whining in order to grab attention. Whatever be the reason, it is important to know it before trying to stop the whining.
Ways to stop the whining:
Given below are some of the ways which can help to make the whiny child calm.
The first step of dealing with a whiny child is to be calm. Difficult as it maybe, one should remember that anger as the response to the whining will only lead to even more whining. Hence, parents should calmly explain to the child that whining will not help them in getting anything. If they need to communicate anything, they should use the normal tone of voice.
The biggest mistake most of the parents commit in trying to stop the whining is to give the child whatever they are whining for. This only leads them to believe that if they whine long enough they will get whatever they want thereby encouraging the habit of whining. It is better to reward them when they DO NOT whine. For every whine free day give them some small reward like sweets or stickers. This will encourage them to behave better and not whine.
Often actions speak louder than words for toddlers. So, next time the toddler starts whining they should be completely ignored. The parents should let them know that unless they use their normal voice, they will not be entertained. If this happens a few times, the child will quickly get the message that whining will not be of much help. Then they will on their own return to a normal behavior.
At times the whining may be for more serious reasons like illness or hunger. In such cases the parents should pay attention and tend to their child’s needs in order to stop their whining.
Often humor can save the day. Mock whining back at the child by the parents often makes the child burst out laughing and the situation becomes better.
It takes time to completely stop this habit. One needs to work consistently at it and have patience. The kid will surely come around.
