BEHAVIOR MILESTONES: Whining

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Children whining is like nails on a chalkboard. It can drive you nutty 🙂 It is hard to keep your cool and stand your ground. However, giving into whining will only encourage kids to do it more; a never-ending whining circle. So what can parents do?

One of the biggest ways to help is to give your children kudos when they don’t whine. Kids are more likely to repeat good behavior if it is noticed and praised. Kudo Banz is an easy way to do this. Give them a Kudo for their band when they hold back the whining. Kudo Banz is right there on their wrist so it is easy to keep good behavior top of mind. Here are a few suggested ways they can earn Kudos for not whining.

KUDO STEP SUGGESTIONS:

  • Stops whining after 1 reminder (“This behavior is not acceptable, please stop so we can talk.”)
  • Uses words to express how they are feeling
  • Controls whining when asked to transition (e.g. eat dinner, get ready for bed, leave playdate/party)
  • Accepts changes to a “plan” (esp if it has a negative impact on something the child was looking forward to)
  • Controls whining when something goes wrong (e.g. toy breaks, homework hard)
  • Accepts “no” without whining (e.g. no dessert, no toy from store, can’t stay up late)

PARENTING TIPS

Keep Calm: This is easier said than done when your child won’t stop whining! Take a deep breath, keep your emotions in check and calmly (but firmly) remind your child that whining is not acceptable behavior.
Give Choices/Warnings: It is important to give your kids a sense of control. Try and give them choices when you can. “Would you like eggs or cereal for breakfast?” “Would you like to do homework or chores first?” “What small toy would you like to bring while we run an errand?” Also, when transitioning, give a 5 minute warning so they feel they have a chance to finish up what they are doing. It is hard for anyone to abruptly stop something.
Communicate Plans: Share the day’s schedule with your kids and allow them to be a part of the plans. This will help them feel more in control and more confident going through the day’s activities. Stick to the plan as much as possible to minimize surprises.
Understand Triggers: Know the limits of your children. If they are tired or hungry, don’t attempt to run numerous errands or ask them to do too many chores.
Praise the Good: When your kids don’t whine, go overboard with the praise. Don’t underestimate the power of positive reinforcement. Kids crave any attention, so our job is to encourage positive attention versus negative.
Don’t Give In: Don’t give into whining! Giving in is the easiest way to stop whining for the moment but it will encourage more whining later. If whining get the outcome kids are looking for, they’ll do them again (and again). Stay strong and calm.

HELPFUL ARTICLES

Kudo Banz Behavior Milestones:

Kudo Banz is like an on-the-go chore chart. Positive reinforcement reinvented to meet the needs of today’s millennial families. As kids grow, they are constantly learning new behaviors. Reaching these milestones in a positive manner is where Kudo Banz comes in! We are here to help start and end behavior in a fun and positive way. Sticker charts or chore charts are often stuck at home, Kudo Banz is always there when you need it since it is right there on your child’s wrist (keeping them motivated to reach their incentive goal).

Finally, a behavior chart that works for your family and makes raising good kids easy and fun. Say goodbye to yelling and tantrums. Kudo Banz makes positive parenting simple.

Growing Happy Families.