Bringing Up a Moody Child

Getting Your Fussy Child to Eat

1. Most moms are faced with the Herculean task of feeding the food to fussy children at least thrice daily.

2. Buying dishware in different colors and shapes could help making meals exciting. Children might want to eat more number of meals and for a longer duration if they fall in love with their plates and glasses.

3. Arranging the food in your child’s plate to make creative patterns can also make food disappear within no time.

4. Brainstorm to give funny names to dishes. Welcome suggestions from your kids too and then make sure that you unfailingly call the dishes with the name bestowed upon them. Try Pom-Pom Pricy Chicken or Guppy Green Paratha?

5 Handing over a piece of paper and a few crayons or reading out a book to your toddler can also help divert his attention and add zest to the eating rituals.

Reasoning out with a child is usually sheer wastage of time. In fact, paying too much heed or constantly trying to pacify them by fulfilling their needs will only ensure that your child continues such behavioral displays even as an adult.

Here is what you can do the next time your child decides to move around the house sulking or being ill-tempered.

Ignore a Brooding Child
The next time your child begins to brood or throw temper tantrums, ignore him. This is the only logical immediate reaction that any parent should meet their child’s huff with. Neglecting or ignoring your child even for five whole minutes can be the worst punishment you ever subjected him to.

No matter how angry your kid is, if he feels neglected, he is sure to sit down for once and listen to you. Your kid’s huffy attitude is sure to dye its natural death if not paid too much attention to. Once the child is ready to listen to you, start by making him follow your instructions first and then explain to him in a kind but stern voice that in future he will never be heard if he howls or whines.

Demonstrate and Explain Alternative Ways of Reacting
Now that your child knows that he will not be paid attention to if he behaves undesirably in future, he should also be tutored on the alternative ways of expressing his resentment. His lesson on behavior will be incomplete if he doesn’t know how to react the next time he is angry. Explain to them the power of words and the manner in which they should be uttered.

So, the next time your child wishes to go to the park or have an ice-cream, he need not let the whole world know about it, but can simply talk to you and seek your permission for the same.

Let them Know – You are the Boss
A child, who knows that he can have his way by crying, is bound to do so at the drop of a hat. Even a one year old understands that he can become the boss and dictate terms; all that he has to do is cry or throw a tantrum. If you wish to rectify this, make sure you make it clear to your child who the boss is.

Since children are too young to make decisions about most matters concerning them, it is only logical for parents to take charge and make sure that their children understand who the decision making authority is. Rather than you having to please your children every now and then, it is they who should be eager to please you. So, learn to put your foot down for unjustified demands of your children.

Neither Parent Should Give Way
All your efforts will turn futile if any one of your gives way and decides to talk to the child or fulfill his demands which the other has decided to ignore. You can achieve your goal only if both of you stand unanimous and decide upon a policy of non interference by the other.

Remember, kids are looking out for every opportunity to grab sympathy when they are punished, and sympathy from anybody at such a juncture can defeat the very purpose of the whole exercise.

If you stay in a joint family there are greater chances of finding sympathy, so make sure that you include all members of your family in your attempt to ending your child’s moody behavior.

Bad behaviors of your children too can be made to wither and die, provided you as parents are persistent and determined to do so!