Whining and five year olds - Children's Health Message Board

rebecarooni · 07-01-2002, 12:46 PM

I am taking a poll here to sort of settle an argument. My fiance feels that my five year old is overly whiny. He does whine at bed time and occasionally when he doesn't get his way. I feel that this is age appropriate but my fiance feels that it is indicative a problem, i.e. I am too lenient with my son. Any input will be appreciated.

Nancy S+13 · 07-01-2002, 01:42 PM

Sounds normal to me. Mine gets whiney anytime she is tired.

~mandy~ · 07-01-2002, 04:15 PM

Both of my kids still whine...unless it's bedtime and they're tired i don't put up with it...i don't think it serves any purpose other than annoying me....i do think it's normal for kids to whine...but when mine do, other than when they are tired and it's bedtime i just ask them to talk like a big boy or girl otherwise i won't listen to them, they stop it pretty quick. If they are whining to get what they want then i do think it's unecessary, but like i already said if there is a reason for it...tired, or hungry then it's a bit more understandable...kids are alowed to be cranky too.

rebecarooni · 07-02-2002, 07:16 AM

I agree. If he's over tired or whatever, I coach, "I can't understand you when you talk like that" or "You're a great big boy, can you talk to me nicely?" It is annoying but considering a year ago, he would fall to the floor in tears if he didn't get his way, I feel like we've come a long way. I heard a cute quote the other day.."We wait two years for our children to walk and talk and then spend the rest of our lives waiting for them to sit down and be quiet." LOL

Jay Tor · 07-02-2002, 09:29 AM

You didn't mention whether he whines only at home or with you or everywhere with everbody.

At five, he's probably starting school [kindergarten] or first grade. As his parent, you may choose to put up with the whining, but what about the other people [kids and adults] that he's going to be interacting with for the rest of his life? Whiners get picked on since they identify themselves as victims and/or they get ignored because they're always 'crying wolf'. In either case, they have fewer friends than other [non-whining] kids.