Why do young children complain so much?
Crying is how children communicate from birth. But, from 2 years of age, the situation begins to take on an aspect of rebellion. This is all because children don't like to be contradicted and throw tantrums to get our attention. They want what they want at a given moment and intend to achieve their goals through shouting.During this process, parents need to have a lot of patience and emotional control to teach them a more viable form of expression. The more emphasis people around the child give them, satisfying their desires when they throw a fit, the more and more times they will repeat this type of behavior. HOW TO ACT IN THE FACE OF YOUR CHILD'S COMPLAINTS?Make the child have a negative perception of such an attitudeThe child needs to realize that what they are doing is inappropriate. They need to understand this! Use playful language to demonstrate that their behavior is not correct. Even if you've said it, the child probably hasn't assimilated it yet.Put on a puppet show with characters that tell a similar situation to the child's. This way, they identify with the story and understand that whining is not a good option to achieve what they want. Do not change your tone of voiceStay calm and don't let the child's irritation take over you. Shouting will not educate or solve the problem; on the contrary, it will reinforce it. Ask your child to stop yelling. Do this using your normal tone of voice. Remember that they learn more from example than from words. Your attitudes and how you deal with it yourself are more important than the "show" they are trying to put on.An interesting tip from specialists is to film or record your child when they are in a normal state and when they are having one of their "fits." Show and let them hear their reaction in both cases when you are having a relaxed moment.Have your child evaluate their actions in a way that seems like a big game. Encourage dialogue about what they are seeing or hearing through questions. Quickly explain the difference in situations and how difficult and uncomfortable it is to hear grumbling and shouting. Give your child paper and crayons and ask them to illustrate the events. It will be very fun! Give your child the right amount of attentionWe know very well that a mother's daily life is full of chores with children, with the house, with work, and so on. Your little one usually starts throwing tantrums to get attention when you are shopping, on the phone dealing with something important, or cooking.It is precisely at the moment you need the most concentration that your child thinks they need your attention and starts throwing a "fit." They will have no shortage of creativity for the scandal! They may throw themselves on the floor, bite, scream, kick, or cry to be noticed.Take a deep breath, pause, lower yourself to the child's level, and say, looking them directly in the eyes. "What do you want?" Evaluate the situation and give them what they ask for at that moment if it is truly essential. Perhaps they need to go to the bathroom, and that can't wait. However, if it's something superficial, like a toy, for example, be firm and don't give in. Simply tell them: "Wait a moment, I'll give it to you soon."The child also needs to gradually develop the ability to be patient, as they are not the center of the world, and attention cannot and should not be exclusively focused on them 24 hours a day. On the other hand, there is time for everything. And your child really needs to spend time with you; read stories, play, give them lots of hugs and kisses. Everything has to happen with balance and in the right measure. Praise him when he behaves wellWhen your child asks for something politely, try to reward them by promptly attending to their request. If at that exact moment you are driving, for example, and cannot immediately do what they need, make that clear and say that as soon as you get home, or stop the car, you will do what your child needs.Don't forget to fulfill what you promised and to say how proud you are that they waited the right amount of time to be attended to. Help the child communicateSometimes your child's grumbling may be related to a way of expressing their feelings. Talk to them and help them identify their emotions. For example, you can say: "It seems like you're sad. Is it because I can't go for a walk with you now?"Tell them: "Mommy can't understand anything. Please speak normally so I can hear you." Also make gestures like covering your ears and making a face so that the child can understand that their shouting is bothering you. Avoid situations like hunger and tiredness.What child doesn't get cranky when they want to eat and sleep? Avoid unnecessary irritations. Never go to the supermarket with your child before meals and don't leave home, not even for a walk, expecting them to be in a good mood when they are sleepy.Parents, stay firmDon't fall into the temptation of giving in to protests exclusively with the aim of your child shutting up and you having peace. If they are adamant about not lowering their voice, ignore them. Don't give them attention until the little one stops the "show" and returns to normal.Only when they calm down should you start negotiating the best solution for the case, which may not necessarily be doing everything exactly as they want. Everything will depend on how they react at the moment. Balance YES and NO in your child's life. Remember that in life they will hear many "no's"; prepare them!Otherwise, these complaints, little by little, will grow until they become demands. From there, the path back can be very complicated, even reaching adulthood with no reversal. Therefore, pay close attention, mothers! It's better to work now while they are children and we can shape them than to completely lose control and have double the work when they reach adulthood.
