Teach Your Toddler to Stop Whining
All parents tire of that whiny voice toddlers love to use. This 400 word article explains how to stop your toddler from whining.
Whining is the bane of every parent’s existence. That shrill, squeaky voice with the upward twist at the end of every phrase can drive an adult to madness! But all toddlers seem to be born with the natural ability to whine with the best of them and it can be very difficult to persuade them not to do it. This article will give you some tips that, if used consistently, can help your little one learn not to whine.
Even small children are able to understand when you tell them that you don’t like whining. It might take them a bit to realize that you mean their mode of asking for things, but keep reiterating it and your child will eventually get it. That doesn’t mean he will stop, though! In fact, some kids might whine more just because they know you don’t like it, it all depends on how ornery your toddler can be.
As with any training, you need to be very consistent. Once you have decided to eliminate whining, you will want to do it all at once, not work on it here and there. Any other adults in the house should also be brought up to speed on what is going on so they can help with the consistency and get rid of whining for good! It helps to have backup.
Now, every time your toddler starts to use that irritating whiney voice to ask for something, just tell him “I can’t understand when you whine, could you please ask nicely?†If he keeps whining, just ignore him, though you may want to repeat the request to speak normally every once in a while. This will most likely lead to a tantrum, but it’s important that you turn whining into something that doesn’t get a response . . . or it will continue. The reason toddlers whine is because it gets results and who doesn’t want that? When it ceases to work, they will move on to something that does, which will hopefully be speaking in a normal voice!
Whining is frustrating and annoying, but by turning it into a language you don’t understand, you force your child to find another way to communicate with you. However, it is vital that you stick to your guns, even when tired, because even one slip up will send you back to Whineville again! Kids are smart, they know when a parent is bluffing and will jump on mistakes fast! So, focus on being very consistent in ignoring the whining.
