• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Because dads don’t always think like moms™

  • Dad
    • Celebrities
    • Gay Dads
    • Sex
    • Single Dads
  • Pregnancy
    • Labor or Delivery
    • Pregnant Wife
  • Baby
    • Baby Naming
    • Feeding
    • Sleep
    • Toilet Training
  • Kids
  • Teens
  • Activities
    • Local
    • By Age
    • Movie Reviews
    • Celebrations
  • Toys
    • We Recommend
    • Toys
  • Coaching for Dads
  • Great Dad Talks Podcast

How to stop your child from whining

January 2, 2011 by GreatDad Writers 1 Comment

The image of a ‘family day out’ with two kids whining on the backseat can seem like the epitome of family life. But as dads, we have all been there.

It would be wonderful if there was a magic cure to stop kids whining, but unfortunately most of them do at some stage. The good news is that it is a habit that can easily be broken with consistency and gentle encouragement.

First, it is important to understand why children do it. Kids whine for a very simple reason and that is to get their parent’s attention.
But whining is not a conscious strategy on their part, it is learned behavior and believe it or not moms and dads often play a part. If a child asks for something politely and the parent doesn’t respond straight away, the child will make it more difficult for their parent to ignore them.

While a toddler may throw a tantrum, an older child, who has more self-control, is more likely to whine. But don’t despair, there are a number of easy steps you can take to break your child’s habit.

  • If your child is continually whining it may be because he or she is ill or in pain. Sometimes it is difficult for kids to explain how they feel and they use whining as a way of telling you that something is wrong.
  • Parents should not wait until children are in distress before paying them attention. If you are on the phone or in the middle of something it is important to respond to your child. Stop what you are doing for a second. Make eye contact and tell your child firmly that you will be with them in a minute. Then give your child attention as soon as you can.
  • Lead by example. Say to your child, ‘I don’t like it when you whine.  If you want something, say it in your normal voice, like this’.
  • Mean what you say. Make sure that no means no and follow it up. If you bow to pressure from your child’s constant whining they will quickly identify it as an easy way of getting what they want.
  • Another great way to deal with whining is to pretend that you don’t understand what they have said. Say to your child, ‘I don’t understand you when you speak in that whining voice, if you speak in a normal voice like a big girl/boy then I can understand you’.
  • Finally, if your child continues to whine, have a go at whining back so they can hear how unpleasant it sounds. Whine at your child and say to them, ‘I am sure you don’t realize you are doing this but that is how you sound when you whine. Doesn’t it sound childish?’

Filed Under: Kids

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sherrill says

    November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    If you’ll accept advice from a grandmother of nice, as well as a former teacher, I offer the following suggestion: Frequently it helps for children to be read fun-stories that illustrate the unpleasantness of bad behavior and ways to correct it. For instance, sometimes children don’t understand how annoying the sound of whining can be. My latest children’s book, “Peter and the Whimper-Whineys” by Sherrill S. Cannon is a story of a little rabbit who does nothing but whine. This rhyming book should be read with alternating normal voice and whining voice, according to the character speaking. Children learn that Whimper-Whineyland is not a fun place to be, not just for all the whining and crying that goes on but for all the other bad behaviour and unpleasant character traits exemplified!!! The book can be found on amazon where there is the read-inside-the-book feature, as well as on barnesandnoble.. I hope that this might help your child as well as it has helped my children and grandchildren

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
SIGN-UP TODAY to receive the only baby newsletter written by dads, for dads. Act now and receive a free copy of the popular GreatDad E-Book!
My baby's due date or birthday :
Profile picture
Privacy Policy and Terms
Baby Name Finder!

what's in a name

  • Show names for:
  • Boys
  • Girls
  • Either
Finding a name you can both agree on isn't always easy. Use our simple name generator to get started.
First Letter
Last Letter
Number of Letters
Origin
Find a name!

More to See

5 Ways to Prepare Your Child for a Surgical Procedure

April 6, 2022 By Contributing Authors

How to get kids excited about dental hygiene

March 3, 2022 By Contributing Authors

Tags

529 Plan budgeting for teens college savings compromise dad dads Father's Day fatherhood friendship in-laws love marriage Movie Review parenting advice parenting skills prepaid cards ritual Sundays travel vacation

Footer

Hi mom!

Would you like to share this site with your husband or a friend?

Just enter his email address and your name below and we'll let him know all about GreatDad.com.

His email address
Your Name

Recent

  • A Dad’s Guide to Bonding with Your Kids Through Computer Games
  • 5 Ways to Prepare Your Child for a Surgical Procedure
  • How to get kids excited about dental hygiene
  • 10 Important Lessons to Teach Your Kids About Keeping Pets
  • The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor

Search

Tags

529 Plan budgeting for teens college savings compromise dad dads Father's Day fatherhood friendship in-laws love marriage Movie Review parenting advice parenting skills prepaid cards ritual Sundays travel vacation

Copyright © 2022 . GreatDad