Your tween is old enough to take care of himself, so why is he whining so much? DR RICHARD C. WOOLFSON decodes the different reasons behind this behaviour.
A few hours spent with your whining tween is guaranteed to leave you drained and exhausted. It gets on your nerves, and if you’re not careful, you could end up whining just as much as he is.
However, there are several explanations for his behaviour. Here are the five main reasons why your child does this, along with advice on the best ways to respond to him.
“I’m bored.”
There are times your primary schooler whines because he is bored and can’t think of what to do to keep himself busy. It starts whenever he has free time (because he hasn’t got a clear plan of action) and it stops the moment he is occupied.
HOW TO RESPOND Distract him as best you can. Giving your child an activity that attracts his interest will stop him in his tracks. Suggest a toy or game that he can play with and, if necessary, start the activity off with him until he is fully engaged. Then you can leave him to get on with it on his own.
“What are you doing?”
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