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Winning the Whining Wars
Words That Empower
By Chick Moorman
Don't take children to stores, malls or relatives' homes beyond their normal bedtime. You are asking for whining. Whining, both theirs and yours, increases with tiredness.
Do use preventative communication before you enter whine zones. Have a talk in the car before you enter the grocery store. Explain the purpose of the trip. Set the ground rules. Make your expectations clear before you enter the whine zone and you will experience less whining after you get in there.
Do inform your child that you are having trouble hearing when she whines. Tell her she is hard to understand when she chooses that tone. Tell her whining hurts your ears and they close down for whine protection.
Do make a copy of this article and carry it around with you. This will help you stay conscious that whining is a behavior you have made a commitment to eliminate.
Don't get discouraged. Whining is learned behavior. Learned behavior can be unlearned, and with consistent use of these strategies, your child will learn new behaviors to replace it.