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What To Do About Whining

March 18th, 2013

Yup, whining is the worst. Here's why it happens, and how to shut it down.

by: Sharon Silver

In This Article
    

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ids usually whine because they're tired, bored or hungry – and whining usually gets worse as the day progresses. Here's how to handle a whiny kid:

Fight whining with food     

Most children are whiny at the end of a long day and often it's because they're tired and hungry. Although you may be trying to stall them so you can sit down to eat as a family, making them wait too long often just makes matters worse–and your family dinner is less likely to be a success.

First of all, you should acknowledge the behavior and let them know you won't listen to them unless they speak in a normal voice. Better yet, though, is to prevent whining from happening in the first place. One useful strategy is to keep a "dinner box" prepped and ready to go in the refrigerator for nights when you're short on time (and patience). Here's how it works:

  • Stock a Tupperware container ahead of time with healthy, satisfying and nutrient-rich foods, such as cheese, yogurt, lunch meat, tuna, veggies and dip, fruit, cheese and crackers, cheese tortillas, or leftovers.  

  • Don't worry about spoiling your child's dinner–this simply becomes the bulk of her dinner. You're basically feeding her the way you used to when she was a baby, before you eat. Now that she's older, she can handle eating on her own while you continue to make the family meal.

  • Remember that your child's stomach is the size of her fist. Toddlers and preschoolers don't eat as much as adults–they're natural grazers and prefer small portions many times a day.

  • If eating together is really important to you, then have her join you for a portion of the adult meal, or for dessert. It's important to recognize that a family dinner may not be feasible every night–and you can use the "dinner box" as your back-up plan for nights when you know your child just isn't going to make it. (It's also handy any time of day when your child needs a quick snack!)
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Prevent whining with the right kind... >>