Best Way to Deal with a Whining Child



No matter what age your child, his constant whining and moaning will drive you to distraction. Some chil­dren are, by nature, prone to complain, and rarely have a smile on their face even they enjoy themselves. But in most instances, a child whines constantly for a reason, which might be

  • boredom,
  • sadness,
  • loneliness,
  • ill health,
  • physical discomfort or pain,
  • need for attention, or
  • anxiety

Whining Child Best Way to Deal with a Whining Child

First, have your child medically examined to rule out any health problems. This is absolutely essential since young chil­dren are often unable to specify the source of their discomfort (for example, an ear infection might result in irritability, and the child might not be able to tell you he has a pain in his ear). You may be surprised to discover that your child is whining constantly because he is ill.

Having ruled out the possibility of illness, then consider the circumstances in which your child’s whining occurs. Is it when you are busy with household chores or shopping? Is it when he can’t decide with what toy or game to play? Is it when he is with his friends? Is it when he is hungry? Could it be he is unhappy in your relationship with him? Think about these and any other potential sources of emotional discomfort. This analysis will help you see a pattern in your child’s whining. You may be able to identify the cause of his moaning, and then to follow a course of action that reduces your child’s need to relate to you in this way.

Whining Child 1 Best Way to Deal with a Whining Child

In the end, you might discover that whining of this sort is simply part of your child’s personality. If so, it is likely to become less evident as he grows older because he’ll soon learn that other children prefer to be with peers who are pleasant, not complaining. In the meantime, let your child know how pleased you are when he doesn’t whine or moan, and try to ignore him when he does.



Leave a Reply