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Behaviour/development

3y5m old dd turns into the whinge monster from Hell

14 replies

WigWamBam · 17/10/2004 18:22

My daughter has turned overnight from a lovely natured (most of the time anyway) child into a complete and total whingebag. She whines and whinges all day, and bursts into tears at the drop of a hat. I know it's normal for a child this age, but how do I cope with the perpetual whining and crying? Is there any way to distract her or stop this behaviour? We've tried ignoring it, but it just gets louder and more whiny and I think my head is going to explode!

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whizzz · 17/10/2004 18:44

I try the diversion tactic when possible. ie whinges for sweets, try to divert with a book or a game etc. DS is 4 & is usually only like this when tired

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sobernow · 17/10/2004 18:46

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nikcola · 17/10/2004 18:56

my dd is exactly the same xxxxxx

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hercules · 17/10/2004 18:56

No advice but whinging is a thousand times worse than straightforward crying!

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motherinferior · 17/10/2004 18:59

aaaaaaaaaaargggh that sodding whingeing. Know it well. I am much like Sobernow about it; aim to be good mummy, fail dramatically.

Three year olds are enchanting, infuriating, and mad as snakes.

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WigWamBam · 17/10/2004 19:25

Quite right MI. I can cope with the crying and even the full blown tantrums - ignoring works a treat - but this bl**dy whining is going to send me mad. Madder even than a snake . I just don't know how to cope without yelling at her, which of course is hugely entertaining for her.

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zebra · 17/10/2004 19:25

I have one, too.

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tortoiseshell · 17/10/2004 19:27

MI - you've summed up my life! Only advice is wait till she's 4. Ds is SLOWLY getting out of it - we just pretend not to hear him till he stops whinging, and then he manages in a normal voice 'Please may I...'

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ladymuck · 17/10/2004 19:28

I keep reciting "It's a phase...This too will pass..."
But not entirely sure that I will ever have a 4 year-old son...

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WigWamBam · 17/10/2004 19:28

I'll be in an asylum by the time she's 4 if she carries on at this rate!

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Anchovy · 17/10/2004 19:58

My DS was three last week. Literally in the last few days he has developed whinge-ing into an art form (together with tears for no reason and hideous pointless temper tantrums). I CAN'T WAIT A WHOLE YEAR FOR IT TO GET BETTER AAAARRRGGGHHHH

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throckenholt · 18/10/2004 08:32

no advice - just empathy - I have one too. What is the evloutionary advantage of driving your parents mad when you are only 3 ???

I have 1.75 year old twins - I think I am going to emigrate and leave them here when they get to this stage - or maybe take up residence in the local loony bin - they can visit me when they are in a good mood .

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WigWamBam · 18/10/2004 08:37

When dd is in a good mood she's lovely. Just recently though her mood swings are worse than mine with PMT! I've only got to look at her the wrong way and she's off. I think emigrating is the only answer, Throckenholt! Although at least with the loony bin we'd get free meals ...

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Issymum · 18/10/2004 10:51

Whining. Aaagh! Unbearable isn't it? One interesting observation from our threenager. I asked her a couple of weeks, when she was in a good mood, to show me what whining was. Bang on cue she started whining "uh hah, uhh, eugh", then broke into an enormous grin. I then asked her to add in some hand gestures and she performed a perfect full-on whining fit, finished with a giggle. So, I can say quite conclusively that she knows exactly what I'm talking about when I ask her not to whine.

I have three semi-successful tactics (I don't include shouting like a banshee as a semi-successful tactic, but that doesn't mean I don't deploy it). Sometimes I ignore her - effective if we're just about to go off and do something else anyway. Sometimes I ask her to go the playroom - "Sorry, Sweetheart, I don't like that noise. Please stop on the count of three or go to the playroom." That tends either to stop it or induce a tantrum, but by then the tantrum is happening in the playroom and I can ignore it. If I'm feeling devilish I start to sing. DD1 absolutely loathes me singing. A few rousing choruses of 'Onward Christian Soldiers' normally does the trick and even if it doesn't, at least I feel like I'm evening up the score!

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