If your children can’t get past the whining, try restating the issue for them. For instance, say, “I can see that you’re upset. Is it because I can’t take you to the park right now?” This will get a conversation going.
At some point, the children should be made to realize the pointless effort that whining is – hence it is important that it goes unappreciated. Teaching them to wait and ask politely will encourage them to model their behavior in a more mature fashion.
Whether or not your children’s demands are reasonable, it’s important to let them know that they won’t get what they want if their way of asking is unacceptable. Say something like, “I can’t understand you when you talk like that. Please use your normal voice and I’ll be happy to listen to what you’re saying.”
Fathers must remember not to get riled up, or they will only end up feeding the fire. It will only serve as a trigger point for more whining.
Some children respond better to visual cues. Try holding your hands over your ears and wincing in mock pain to signal that you hear whining (cup your ears and smile serenely when it stops).
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