Whining and complaining are two of the most tedious emotions that a parent faces. It is one of the many ways your kids try to connect with you. Their whines might be your morning alarm and you might have to deal with them several times a day. It is natural for kids to complain over the smallest things throughout the day, but at times it may become emotionally and mentally taxing for parents.
If your child is a constant complainer, you might want to correct his behavior because it not only affects those beside him but also his mental health. If they are focused on the negatives in life, it can affect their mental health and be a barrier in their social life. Therefore, you must help your child look for the positives in life and overcome the negative thoughts that are entering his mind.
Here are some ways you can help your child:
Teach them what whining is
We know it sounds weird, but your child might not be aware of the fact that the way they are expressing themselves is whining. Talk to them and show them what whining is by recording their video. You should let them know that you can not understand them when they speak in a whiny tone. Appreciate and praise their voice when they are expressing their emotions in a strong voice.
Encourage them to solve the issue
If your kids are whining about a problem, ask them how they think the issue can be resolved. Give them options to resolve the issue. This will not only sharpen their problem-solving skills but will also reduce the whining.
Give them a balanced view
If your kids are quick to jump to the negatives in a situation, point out the positives for them. Give them a balanced view of the situation so that they can learn how to look for the positives and focus on them. Rephrase their negative sentences into positives. For example, “I hate that we had to go home so soon because of the rain.” can turn into “ I know this frustrates you, but I’m glad we got to meet your grandparents before we left.”
Acknowledge their emotions
You must understand and validate their emotions. Minimizing their emotions will not only make them more agitated but might also lead to mental health problems. Let them know that sometimes discomfort is part of life and they will need to learn how to deal with it. They are more likely to listen to you with full attention if you do the same with them.
Ask them to take action
If your child is stuck in a victim mentality i.e. something bad always seems to happen around them. Ask them to take action, if their behavior is not actively discouraged they will be stuck in the victim mentality forever and they won’t take action to improve their surroundings. Encouraging them to change whatever they don’t like can help them get rid of this mentality.
