My 5 year old nephew always has an attitude, i tell him 'No' and he sucks his teeth, groans, and whines. I try to tell him that giving attitude isn't going to do anything for him except for get him in trouble but he does it anyway. Is there a way i can get him to stop giving attitude when he doesn't get his way.
J., we just answered this question in almost the same words the other day. If you continue to post, you're not going to get a different set of responses. Please go re-read those answers and pay attention to the advice given.
The way that you get little kids to stop giving attitude is to completely ignore it. They do it to try to get a reaction from you, and when you give him a reaction (even just telling him to stop), you are giving him what he wants. Completely ignore his response, no matter what it is.
Other than this, I also stand by my previous advice - any discipline for this or any other behavior needs to be done by his parents, not by you. If you are babysitting him and he is giving you a hard time, then you need to talk to his parents and they will need to step in.
stop parenting your nephew.
he sounds a little rude, but you don't have a say unless his parents have explicitly granted it to you.
butt out.
khairete
S.
J., you're sweet to care but really, you need to understand boundaries here. Your nephew is not your child. You are not a parent. It is not your place to try to address what you perceive to be behavior problems. Go be a kid, and leave your nephew alone. I don't understand why you are so intent on inserting yourself into the role of parent here. It's not your place. If someone is putting this on you (maybe he lives in the same house as you or you baby-sit or something?) then step away from that responsibility. Very much not your job or your business.
I thought we just answered this.
Personally - I never tried to rationalize with my kids or the ones I babysat when they were acting up. They aren't listening nor are they old engouh to understand (or care quite frankly) in the middle of a tantrum.
Just make sure he's well rested, well fed (no sugar), and not bored. Activity, outdoors, fresh air, read too, entertained, etc.
If he's still full of attitude - or doesn't want to do what you tell him, then change your approach. I didn't 'ask' my kids to do things. For example, I would say "Before we have lunch, we wash our hands". I marched them all over to the washroom, they lined up and washed hands. There was no lunch until they followed the process. Kids love routine.
I find the kids you see doing the groaning and whingeing are the ones who are past their 'limit'. Usually tired or done (spent as we say in our family).
Just something to consider in case that may be true of your nephew. Also, kids need downtime. They do better when well rested (throughout the day).
Stop trying to parent your nephew, that's his parents' job.
He does it because he's getting attention for doing it.
Negative attention is still attention.
Learn to ignore it.
Try distracting him.
Instead of telling him what he can't do - tell him what he can do.
Have you started reading to/with him yet?
Does anyone else babysit him besides you?
Julilee
Instead of PARENTING your nephew? Be a role model for him.
You're not helping him. While you feel you are, you are basically doing what HE is doing. STOP.
Be a role model. LET HIM GET IN TROUBLE. He needs to learn. He won't learn until his parents step up and PARENT him - give him boundaries and discipline. It's NOT your place to discipline him.
I’m sorry, but this is very typical behavior for that age. It just is. I think the best, and hardest, thing to do is not get emotional. Very flatly state that saying please and thank you for gifts and kindness, offering help to someone who is frequently caring towards him, or saying kind words are ways to express gratefulness and love. And that rolling eyes, sucking teeth, taking in a whiny or rude tone are things that could hurt your feelings. State specifically what you will do when you are not treated kindly (such as leaving the room, not continuing the convo, etc) and follow thru. But try your best to talk in a kind tone or in a neutral one. Saying anything in a harsh way usually ends up in more negative. Praise caring behavior (“Your heart is so big!”, “I feel so happy around you.”) Consistency and kindness/neutrality are key.
