It can be easy for kids to fall into a negative mindset with endless complaining. Just like it can be easy for parents.
Constant whining, fits, complaining and doom and gloom moods that are hard to put an end to.
As a mother of 3 I’ve definitely had days when it seemed as though all my kids rolled out of bed in a bad mood that wouldn’t stop.
We all want our children to be happy.
When bad days happen it’s easy to start feeling like we are the ones that are making them upset, negative, and moody.
Why is my child always negative?
There are a lot of things that can cause your child to be negative.
Consider that it may also be a part of their personality, a mental health issue, or a consequence of a stressful situation at home or school.
The Child Mind Institute reports that 1 in 5 school aged children suffer from a mental health disorder or learning disability. Many of these can contribute to how your child is feeling.
It could also be a learned behavior from children they observe or even family members they spend time with.
Yale Medicine states that kids with clinically depressed parents are more likely to have behavioral issues as a result.
Is it normal for my child to be negative?
It is perfectly normal for children to be occasionally negative.
It’s when negative behavior whining and complaining become excessive that we should step in with strategies to help them be positive.
After all a positive attitude is a good trait for children to learn as they grow into as they grow older.
You might like: Positive Parenting Strategies for Stopping Toddler Tantrums
How do I get my child to stop complaining?
Negative behavior from your child could come in the form of whining and complaining.
Does your child always find something to whine and complain about?
Even if you are somewhere fun and exciting like a family vacation?
Remember that Whining and complaining is Another form of negative behavior.
There may be something you can do as a parent to change this behavior and your child.
Take a look at some of the positive parenting strategies below to see if one might work for your family!
How do you change negative behavior to positive?
If it’s apparent to you that your child has developed a negative attitude, now it’s time to find out how to change it into positive!
Be a positive role model – It’s always easier to take a look at our own behavior but here it’s important.
Our children observe how we react to every situation.
I want you to really think about your own life here.
Are you taking care of your mental health? Seeking help for depression, talking to a therapist? Taking care of your mental health is positive for your children!
Are you handling stressful situations with positivity?
Are you being positive when things don’t go your way?
Are you constantly complaining about things in your life?
Are you being positive interactions with other Adults in your life?
Finally are you being positive and the interactions you have with your children?
Making small changes in the way we act can have a big impact in the way our children act.
Showing your children positivity each and every day will give them the example they need to be positive with themselves.
Get down to their level– Be observant of your child’s life and what they’re going through.
Could it be that the negative attitude they are expressing is the result of a negative or stressful situation they may be going through.
Often times bullying, divorce, or a death in the family can bring on mood changes in our children.
They can react in a variety of different ways. Including, letting negativity sleep into their daily lives.
Take care of their mental health– If you feel your child’s negativity is abnormal or happening often, it may be a result of a mental health issue, such as depression.
Make sure you get your child screened by a doctor or psychiatrist to see if there isn’t anything medical going on that is effecting their mood.
Positive self affirmations – Is your child constantly putting themselves down?
Do they let negative thoughts of not being good enough set in?
Guide your child through positive self affirmations each day.
Take turns as a family saying one nice thing About each other then about themselves.
Teach your kids to be mindful of their emotions and to use techniques like meditation or yoga if they are feeling negative.
Build self-esteem up – While we can’t prevent things that diminish self-esteem, like bullying, we can make a positive impact in boosting our child’s self-esteem and confidence.
Give a boost to your child’s positivity and self esteem with positive reinforcement and words of encouragement.
Build a calm home– Do you feel like your home is full of chaos? Sometimes the mood of the home sets the mood of the people who live in it.
Here are some great tips to build a calm home with no yelling and positive discipline.
How do I instill positive thinking in my child?
So, lets break down some ways to create a positive home with positive thinking kids.
- Spend more positive family time together
- Work at your parent-child relationship
- Replace yelling and harsh punishment with positive parenting strategies
- Seek help from a medical professional for any mental health issues that may be keeping your child from experiencing a positive outlook
- Help your kids develop positive smart goals, so they have positive things to work on
- Develop positive goals to work toward as a family
Taking some of these easy steps will help you make lots of change towards a more positive home with more positive kids!
How have you helped your kids become more positive? I’d love to hear your tips in the comments below!
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