Parent Tool - Filling Your Child's Emotional Bucket
Overview
Sometimes when children are nagging us to join them (even when we feel like we have been playing with them all day), they are expressing something important to us. They have a need at that moment for lots of love. We are busy people, with kids to look after, food to get on the table, work that doesn’t stop with the phone beeping, Facebook to be checked, etc. Our kids go along with us on this ride, but sometimes they just want to say, “Stop Mum/Dad. Look at me. Please give me a hug.” Unfortunately, it often comes out as a whining noise.
Coping with nagging behavior
Age of Child: 6 to 9
Setting: Not mentioned
Area of Challenge: Handling a nagging child
Skill: Fill your child’s emotional bucket
Importance of skill: Sometimes when children are nagging us to join them (even when we feel like we have been playing with them all day), they are expressing something important to us. They have a need at that moment for lots of love. We are busy people, with kids to look after, food to get on the table, work that doesn’t stop with the phone beeping, Facebook to be checked, etc. Our kids go along with us on this ride, but sometimes they just want to say, “Stop Mum/Dad. Look at me. Please give me a hug.” Unfortunately, it often comes out as a whining noise.
HOME PRACTICES
Objective: Handling a nagging child
Strategy: Showing love and care
Description: Change your routine slightly. For example, you get home from the supermarket and have a big pile of shopping to unload. Instead of tackling the shopping and your toddler comes to moan at you, take 5 minutes to cuddle with your child first. Play with them, sing some silly songs, and bounce them up and down on your knee. Fill their emotional bucket. Then you can invite them to help you unpack the shopping or bring something to play with while they wait for you to finish.