How We Cut The Whining and Nagging

After turning two Sophia started this incredibly annoying nag. She couldn't just ask for something, it was almost like singing "moooooooom, can I haaaave play dooooooooh? pleeeeeeease?!" I mean there was nothing wrong with her wanting play doh, I probably would have given it to her if I wasn't so incredibly annoyed with the way she was asking for it. Hah! The whining however would come out at bedtime. We sleep in the same room, literally 3 ft apart (if even) and every night she'd whine "mommyyyyyyyy, I wanna sleep in youuuuuuur bed" "mommyyyyyy hold my haaaaaand" "I have to go pottyyyyyyyy", and again nothing wrong with asking but she would whine over and over again.

We tried EVERYTHING! We tried talking to her about it. We tried scolding her. We tried taking away certain things. We even tried ignoring it at some point. I was becoming extremly impatient with her. Then one day I thought about it and decided to talk to her like any other adult. Just because she is a child that doesn't mean I can't talk to her like she's an adult. She will begin to understand more.

Just 2 simple things! Here's what we started doing:

1. Set an example:

When the whining and nagging started I would acknowledge her and say "Hey, can you try saying 'Mom, may I please have some water'" and I'd say it in the exact tone that I'd like her to use. When she saif it in a more aceptable tone is when she would get what she asked for. Even if I needed to repeat myself I would. Why? Because I was TEACHING her what is expected of her. I set a clear example and I kept teaching until she got it, once she got it there would be no excuse as to why she did not ask in an acceptable tone.

2. "I can't understand you when you whine like that, can you try again please?"

Once I knew that she undrstood what an acceptable tone was I stopped correcting her and started giving her hints. When she would begin whining I would state (in a very calm voice) "I can't understand you when you whine like that, can you try again please?" and surprisingly I didn't have to repeat that. She would adjust her tone and try again.

After just doing those two things we have officially cut the whining out! Basically we just needed PATIENCE and correction. She wold continue to whine because we never properly corrected her, once we started correcting and setting an example she did MUCH better!

We want to hear from you!

Did you cut whining and nagging out? How did you do it? Are you going to try this? Let us know how it works for you and if you've incorporated anything different.

With Love,

-The Wing Queen

Breana