Attention seeking behavior, such as whining, temper tantrums, and yelling, cannot only be embarrassing but also emotionally draining.
- Empathize with them. This can be hard to do when your child is acting up, but it is important to remember your children are
coming from a place of emotional immaturity. Empathizing does not mean giving them what they want. - Sometimes the best option is to calmly inform them whining will not get them what they want and you will speak to them when they are ready.
- Lastly, have a plan. Come up with a code word or phrase your child can use when there is a real emergency versus when they just need attention. This will help your child differentiate between the two and allow them to grow in maturity.
Challenge: Develop a code phrase with your child this week and go over examples of when it is appropriate to use it.
