Mum's GENIUS tips to stop kids complaining
Eloise Hill
Content writerIt can be difficult to respond calmly when our kids start whinging and whining ... but an expert recommends following THESE four steps.
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Whether it's getting dressed or going to school, kids will always find something to complain about. Sigh.
Luckily, one mum and psychologist has shared four tips she SWEARS by when her children start complaining – and we're totally here for it!
Posting a video on her Instagram page, Dr Jenna Elgin from @helpingfamiliesthrive reveals her first piece of advice is for parents to never take the behaviour personally.
In the video caption, she acknowledges that this is the most difficult step, since hearing your kids complain 'can easily trigger our own big feelings.'
However, she explains that it's often 'due to a child feeling a lack of control in a situation.'
For the second tip, the psychologist recommends avoiding 'trying to convince your child they're going to have fun or to not be upset.'
'When kids are complaining, meeting them with logic isn’t going to help,' she explains.
'We have to meet the underlying emotional need.'
As step three, the mum suggests verbally acknowledging your child's 'want or wish.'
An example she gives is, 'You really wish you didn't have to go to soccer practice today.'
And as step four, Dr Elgin recommends giving your child 'an age-appropriate choice so they feel a sense of control in the situation. This could be something like, 'What audiobook do you want to listen to on the way to practice?'
The advice clearly resonated with a lot of parents on Instagram, with the clip receiving almost 400 likes on the platform.
'Great advice 👏😍' one user commented.
'Love finding their underlying wish. So good to validate that,' wrote another.
The @helpingfamiliesthrive Instagram page, shared by Dr Elgin and Dr Shanna Alvarez, has over 77k followers in total.
In other news, one mum recently shared her cunning trick to convince her kids to clean the house ... and it's absolutely genius!
And, a primary school teacher has revealed all the annoying comments she receives from parents, in the hopes that they will stop.
Older children having tantrums? Here's how to handle them ... Or, if you're not sure what time your child should be going to bed, check out this handy chart.
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