How To Deal With Your Child's Whiny Behaviour

All children will have whiny periods at one time or another which can be frustrating for parents. And while it is advised to find out why your child is acting up so you can manage such behaviours it can be extremely difficult and stressful.

In order to make it a little easier on you, we have put together some tips to help you and your (sometimes) whiny child.:

1. Pay attention – When we say pay attention, what we mean is to pay attention to your child’s good behaviours and compliment them on it. Parents sometimes forget to pay attention to kids’ good behaviour and therefore, some kids act up to gain their parents' attention though it is in the wrong context. They consider this, a good way to get parents to give them the attention they crave. Give them attention when they are good and when they are behaving badly, take yourself away and refuse to entertain their whiny mannerisms.

2. Why is your child whining? – Here is the thing, your child may be hungry, thirsty, tired or sick and these can trigger a lot of whiny behaviour. If you consider this the case, try a different technique and solve their issue so they don’t get to the stage where they are whining. For example, if your child is whining while doing their homework after school (like most kids) instead of keeping to the same routine – change it. Stop and look for another solution, perhaps, your child needs a break when they come in and something to eat. Then, they may behave better instead of whining.  

3. Talk to your child and get them to communicate – As above, look for solutions and sometimes the best thing you can do is ask your child why they are whining? Is there something else going on in their life? Is this a sudden occurrence and is this out of character? Does your child need some comfort? Most children whine around the ages of 3-6 years old, but it can continue if not managed properly. This begins with chatting and finding reasons why it occurs and encouraging your child to behave better and talk about their issue rather than whining.

4. Consider your own behaviours – Children who witness their parents moan may decide to do it as they see the behaviour as normal. Of course, parents don’t aim to do this but sometimes when life is tough it is easy to get into a habit of complaining or giving out. Whining is a method of moaning for younger people and perhaps, try to be more positive and encourage all the family to speak about their daily lives or issues instead of complaining about them. Find ways to make life easier for everyone by problem-solving as a family.

5. Don’t let it bother you – This is easier said than done but you should stop short of shouting at your child for their whining as it will not help them improve their whining. Instead, brush it aside and refuse to enter into conversations with a whining child. Tell your child, gently, to come back to you when they are calm and keep working on it. It may take time, but you will get there eventually!

Good luck!