Camilla McGill shows how to respond when kids whine by pretending you can't hear them and asking them to repeat themselves in a clearer voice. The trick uses humor to sidestep the complaint without dismissing their feelings, which are normal at their age.
It's not fair! Why can't you do it? I don't want to have a bath! Here's one really quick way to respond to whining: use some humour. Sounds crazy, doesn't it? But hear me out. Kids are egocentric and they have strong feelings. That's normal. So next time this happens, try this trick. I heard a really weird noise. It wasn't you speaking. I couldn't understand the words. 'Just try again in a voice that I can hear and we can talk about it.' Helpful? Drop 'yes' below if you'd like to grab my free guide, 'How to Get Kids to Listen Without Ever Needing to Nag or Shout.'
