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No More Whining
by Ginger Plowman, Author/Speaker Mooooommyyyyyyy, I want some juuuuice... I don't wanna go to sleeeeeeep.... I have to go to the baaathrooooooom... Is there anything more annoying than whining? Perhaps, but off the top of my head, I can't think of it. The bad news is that children who are allowed to whine not only hinder others from enjoying their company, but also hinder themselves from enjoying life. The good news is that no matter how accustomed your child is to whining, he or she can learn to communicate properly by practicing three easy steps. Three-Step Plan to Whine-Free Living! Step One. Ask your child if he is speaking with a self-controlled voice. You might say, "Sweetheart, are you asking Mommy for juice with a self-controlled voice?" You might add, "Mommy will never give you what you want when you whine. God wants you to use self-control, even with your voice." Step Two. Explain that it is love that motivates you to train him. You might say, "Honey, I love you too much to allow you to speak foolishly. Here's what Mommy is going to do to help you learn self-control. You may wear the "No Whine Watch", and when the buzzer goes off in three minutes, you may come back and ask for juice the right way." Step Three. Follow through. When the buzzer goes off, have the child come back and ask for juice with a self-controlled voice. It may be necessary to demonstrate the correct way to speak to help your child along. In doing this you are correcting him for wrong, and more important, training him in what is right. Avoid Power Struggles If the child refuses to come back and ask the right way, perhaps deciding that he doesn't want the juice after all, don't force him to come back when the buzzer goes off, as that can encourage a power struggle. Simply don't offer the juice and let it go. However, the next time he does ask for juice (or something else) in a whiney voice, repeat steps one through three again. Be Encouraged! Be consistent in training, never give in to whining, and follow through with this plan each and every time an opportunity presents itself, and you'll have a whine-free life (and a more joyful, self-controlled child) before you know it! |
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| Ginger Plowman, author of "Don’t Make Me Count to Three" and "Heaven at Home", speaks at women’s events, parenting conferences and home school conventions across the country. Visit her website at www.GingerPlowman.com |
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