Keegan is in this stage (please tell me it is just a stage) where he whines for everything that he wants. It isn't a sweet little whine, it is this horrible screech-whine thing that is worse than nails on a chalkboard. He does it when he wants something, but then it turns into hysterics (like someone slaughtering a pterodactyl) and sometimes a tantrum when I have to say 'no.' Lately it seems like all I am saying is 'no.' No, he can't have 3 packs of fruit snacks in a row. No, he can't climb on the back of the couch and dive off head first. No, he can't color on the walls. No, I won't pick up his fork for the 5th and 6th time that he has thrown it from the table. No, he can't color on the computer screen with a permanent marker.
Now, he isn't really talking yet, and so I know it is his way of communicating his needs and frustrations. But how do I teach him that it is not the correct way of communicating? He knows a good number of words, or signs (sign-language) but maybe doesn't understand yet how to use them all correctly in context.
I'm a pretty even tempered person, but whining is not the way to get something from me and it sends me over the top. This whole situation literally frustrates me to tears on a daily basis. I don't know what to do! Help?!?!
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Yes, this is a stage that all kids go through. We used to look at our kids and say "Use your words", or "I don't understand whining". It still takes a while for them to get out of it, but it encourages them to slow down and respond appropriately. And, it really encourages language development. Even today, when the kids whine, I look at them and ask them if they have ever gotten their way when they whine. You just have to make sure that you balance a "no" with a "yes" when they ask again without the whine every now and then. That way they can see the correlation between good actions and good outcomes.
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