人家都说TERRIBLE TWO,我倒觉得小男孩三岁比两岁时更难缠。
三岁的儿子驰驰最近新添的毛病是Whining。我不知道怎么翻译Whining或者 Whine这个词,英汉字典解释是:1发出高而尖的哭声和叫声,2牢骚,3哀求。后两种解释用于成年人还是蛮贴切的。第一个解释可用於儿童,但感觉不准确。倒觉得whine和撒娇有点近似,更准确地说是‘托着哭腔说话或要求’。我觉得英文还是词汇非常丰富的语言,一个词便可涵盖一种现象了,既简单又传神。
扯地远了。反正驰驰最近经常和我Whining,比如拉长腔不愿意地说我不要吃早饭,我就要再吃一块糖,我就要看电视,我不要睡觉,诸如此类。或者不小心头碰到了桌子,就托着哭腔说,妈妈,头疼…..。总之,弄得我很头疼。这不光是他听不听话的问题,而是他拖着腔说话的语调更让人心烦,一天几次下来已经对我有了‘余音饶梁’的效果了。
怎么对付孩子的Whining,我还在摸索之中,在此与大家分享经验。教育专家说要注意孩子whining的真正原因。比如驰驰的原因是因为他才去了daycare一两个月,以及最近祖父母的回国。他在whining的时候,我尽量耐心,给他缓和的余地,比如回应他,好,玩5分钟以后要吃饭了,这可是最后一块糖了,在看5分钟电视,妈妈给你讲个故事再睡觉等等。可如果whining的越来越多了或者缓和招无效了,我只好改变对付他whining的策略,对他要tough起来,让他Stop Whining。对於不碍大事的头疼脚疼屁股疼的whining,就表情轻松但语气肯定地保证他一会就会好的,如果他接着whining,我就不理了,任他闹之。一般他闹一阵无趣了,也就做罢了。对不合理的要求,开始直截了当地说NO,然而后果往往是激惹他大哭大闹。这时候我只好锻炼自己的神经,坚持不理他,任他哭。这个方法虽然残酷,但也有效,至少有一段时间能让他不再为一件事whining. 还有以下我在网上查询到的tips:
> 不要马上回应。
> 要求孩子用正常的语气说话。
> 回答的语气要冷静和坚决,用简单明确的语言,不罗嗦。
> 如果孩子听从了,要表扬。
> 如果当时没有听从,事后要和孩子讲道理。注意是事后。
当然了,没有什么一招见效的方法。我自己也一直用我的耐力智力PK他的whining。如果他不闹了,就是我胜了。如果我开始对他吼叫了,就是他胜了。做父母真是我们一生的课程。
以下是我在美国parenting网站看到美国家长对如何应付孩子whining这个题目的回应,挺有意思的,尤其是最后一条,我今后要尝试。
1. "I try to ignore whining, then I try to explain why (my son) shouldn't whine, then I cajole, threaten, and finally ... I WHINE!!!"
2. "My best advice: Let your 'no' mean no and your 'yes' mean yes. Giving in to whining just perpetuates the habit."
3. "If my children whine, I make it clear that I did not understand what they have said (even if I have). They (soon) realize that they must speak in an acceptable way, i.e. moderate tone, (proper) enunciation. ... When they speak in an appropriate way, they are acknowledged and addressed. When they whine, they are misunderstood and unanswered."
4. "By whining, our children learn that we will then pay attention to them. ... It's not their tone of voice that we should be reinforcing. We really can avoid the problem with better listening skills and (hopefully they will no longer feel the need to indulge the) nasty whining habit."
5. "My house is full of kids with a sense of humor. ... If they whine, I whine right back. "But, Mooooom...," they drag on. "But, daaarlings...," I yodel. Usually they are sick of me first. Victory!"