Whining and Complaining

Whining driving you up a wall? That sound can be worse than nails on a chalkboard, and the desperate desire to make whining and complaining stop has many parents asking questions like:

    • Why do kids whine in the first place and why is it so darned annoying?
    • Isn’t whining just a way for my child to manipulate me?
    • How do I deal with whining – or prevent it from happening in the first place?

In this kit, you’ll learn the whys of whining and what your kid is trying to tell you with that tone. Plus, the experts weigh in on ways to handle it that can foster your child’s development and boost your relationship. Music to your ears? Then let’s lose the whining – and find your sanity.

What goes into making a course?

5 Episodes

10 Activities

210 Hours of study

5 Experts

55 Papers and books

23 Recommended Resources

Expert Highlights

Neha Navsaria-Kirtane, PhD
Clinical Psychologist and Associate Professor of Psychology
It’s really a way of a child expressing their emotional state or even their thoughts. And the idea is that they’re trying to say that they might be feeling upset, bored, anxious—whatever it is they might be, but there’s a legitimate feeling behind it.

— What it Really Means

David Hong, MDD
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
As we get older, we have more and more of these abilities to do what we call cognitive control. It’s to put the brakes on our needs and wants and to consider other perspectives.

— Cork The Whine

Tom Phelan, PhD
Registered Clinical Psychologist, Author
If you’re tantruming or whining, you’re being a kid. And I don’t like it, but I’m not going to treat you as if you were the devil or some horrible person because you’re making me upset.

— The Whine You Bring to The Table

Philip A. Cowan, PhD

Professor Emerita

We tend to carry over the patterns from the families we grew up in in the way that what happens – especially around emotional expression – colors your perception of what’s happening now.

— The Whine You Bring to The Table

Robert E. Larzelere, PhD

Professor

Finding an acceptable compromise when it fits the situation is most likely to resolve the situation. And it doesn’t have negative consequences for an easily managed child.

— Time to Whine Down

What the Parents Say

After hearing the interaction with the host and her son I actually yelled “yes!!” out loud. This exact situation happened to me a few hours ago and derailed our whole morning. Love the academic perspective about normalcy, but it’s so incredibly reassuring to actually hear other parents going through this.

Erin

By far the best app for new parents to be, especially nervous scared and confused first time Mom to be like myself. Thank you for creating this app where parents like me can join a community of parents that have been through it and I’m experienced to give little insights to help new parents to grow and develop realize we’re not allowed and parenting is not easy. It’s a learning experience day by day will make mistakes but those mistakes that make parenting great.

Ashley

Great advice thank you! It’s good to remind yourself of how cute they really are when they are at their worst to keep things peaceful.

Sarah

“It’s really helped me to pause and remember that they are children. Whom I really love and not 2 headed monsters!”

Claire

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