Getting Down to the Root of Whining

by | Apr 27, 2022 | Author, Blog, Books | 0 comments

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 For review copy and interview information, contact:Audra Jennings – audra@newgrowthpress.com – 903.874.8363 Sam has figured out a way to get what he wants when he wants it—he whines. In fact, it works so well that he’s started whining more and more to get his way. Not only does Sam’s mother give in to his whining very quickly—he learned how to whine from her. But, Sam finds himself in quite the sticky situation when his whining leads him to being covered with cotton candy and stuck on the top of a Ferris wheel!

All parents want their children to whine less, but few notice that they might have a problem with whining too. Best-selling author Ginger Hubbard, along with Al Roland, help families think about whining with a silly story that will not only make them laugh, but will also encourage them to see how whining stems from a heart that wants things more than God. The parent resource page at the end of Sam and the Sticky Situation: A Book about Whining presents a biblical framework and practical suggestions to help children understand why they whine and how to learn a better way of expressing themselves.

Sam and the Sticky Situation is part of the new Teaching Children to Use Their Words Wisely series. Children ages 4-7 will love the story with its bright, fun illustrations, and along the way will learn that there are better ways than whining to communicate. An Interview with Ginger Hubbard,
Coauthor of Sam and the Sticky Situation Q: Why do you think whining has become such a problem with children in today’s culture?

One of the issues behind whining is a lack of self-control. Children who use demanding forms of communication to express their wants and needs are in bondage to their emotions and a lack of self-control. An enslaving addiction to whining does not make for a happy child or a happy parent.

In Proverbs 25:28, God compares a person who lacks self-control with a city whose walls are broken down. In Galatians 5:22-23, he deems self-control so important that he lists it as a priority virtue. In Titus 2:12, he says that by his grace, we are to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled lives.

God’s commands are for the purpose of his glory and our joy. Honoring God by speaking with a self-controlled voice accomplishes both purposes. When we choose to obey his commands, he puts joy in our hearts, which reflects his own joy of being glorified. It all works together in such a beautiful way.

Q: There are probably a lot of parents out there who are at a loss for how to address whining with their kids, so they find themselves resorting to methods that are ineffective. Can you identify some of those ineffective methods and share why they’re not beneficial?

Parents should avoid scolding.  Scolding is an angry response that will stir anger in the hearts of our children. Proverbs 15:1, says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” When we train in anger, we are not modeling the self-control that we desire our children to learn.

Parents should avoid ignoring them or giving in to their demands. To ignore a whining child is to shirk our responsibility to train them, and to give in to their demands will reinforce the wrong behavior.

To respond to a whining child using any of these methods is to selfishly place our own interests above the interests and well-being of the child. God has placed parents as the authority over children to teach them, not to ignore them or to get them to “hush” by indulging inappropriate behavior. 

Q: How can parents help children understand the heart issue behind whining and teach them to be better communicators?

I recommend 3 simple steps.

Ask Heart-Probing Questions:

Asking questions helps your child to take ownership for his own behavior. You might ask, “Sweetheart, are you talking with a self-controlled voice?” If he shrugs his shoulders instead of answering, gently speak the truth on his behalf: “No, you were not talking with self-control.”

Reprove Your Child for Whining:

Don’t overdo your reproof. You might simply say, “Honey, God wants you to have self-control, even with your voice (Titus 2:12). Because you need to learn to speak the right way, I will not discuss this while you are whining.” Explain to your child that not only does God command him to have self-control, but that when he asks God for help, God will empower him to live in accordance with his command. You might say, “Did you know God will help you to speak with self-control if you ask him?”

Train Your Child to Speak with Self-Control:

Explain that it is love that motivates you to train him. You might say, “Sweetheart, I love you too much to allow you to speak foolishly. Because I want to help you learn to speak with self-control, I’m going to set the timer for three minutes. When the buzzer goes off, you may come back and speak the right way.” It may be necessary to demonstrate the correct way to speak to help your child along. If the child refuses to come back after the three minutes, a natural consequence would be that he doesn’t get to have that conversation with you. (Cute timers for children are available at www.GingerHubbard.com.)

Q: Once parents start implementing this training, how long does it normally take before they start seeing change?

Parents who are consistent with this teaching are telling me that their children are absolutely transformed in the way they communicate in one week or less. It’s an easy way to address it, and if you’re consistent, it works! 

We often find ourselves scolding, ignoring, or giving in because we don’t really know how to respond. We don’t have a plan. So out of frustration, we respond in ways that aren’t beneficial. This plan not only helps us stay consistent, but it also gives us a self-controlled way to respond to whining.

Q: How would you address the issue differently with older children who whine?

When older kids whine and demand that their wants and desires be met immediately, it can be rooted in the sin of idolatry. It’s vital that we recognize it in ourselves as well. We can know that whining has become the idolatry of selfishness, when we start believing that our temporal wants and desires are going to satisfy us more than God.

1 Timothy 6:17 tells us that God “Richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment,” but those gifts for our enjoyment become idols when they’re desired and enjoyed over God himself. A good indicator that gifts are becoming idols is when the absence of them, or withholding of them, ruins our trust and delight in the goodness of God.

As children mature, we want to begin warning them against the dangers of idolatry. A simple way to explain that might be to say something like, “Idolatry is when a person or thing is loved more than God, wanted more than God, desired more than God, treasured more than God, or enjoyed more than God.”

Q: Can you tell us how this book will help children learn about the dangers of idolatry and the importance of self-control?

In the story, Sam and the Sticky Situation, Sam figures out that he gets his way when he whines, so he starts whining more and more. But as a result of all his whining Sam finds himself stuck in the sticky situation of being covered in cotton candy from head to toe and stuck on top of a Ferris Wheel.

Later in the story, Sam’s mom winds up confessing to her own problem with whining, which God uses to help Sam realize his problem. In the end, they both learn that nothing they want is more important than God. They also learn the value of self-control, and the importance of asking for God’s forgiveness and help.

Q: In Sam and the Sticky Situation, Sam has picked up on his whining tendencies from his mom. As parents, when our children struggle with an issue, should we look inward to examine our own hearts to see if we might be struggling too?

Yes, we’re told in Matthew 7:5 that we should remove the plank in our own eye and then we can see clearly to remove the speck from someone else’s eye. There is one thing we all have in common with our kids. We are sinners in need of a Savior just as much as they are. We need God’s rescuing grace and help as much as they do, and it’s encouraging for them to know that.  As parents, we need to be honest with our kids about our own struggles at age-appropriate levels. 

It’s okay for us to say to our children, “I was whining about having to do the laundry this morning, but my whining and complaining was not honoring to God. I’ve asked him to forgive me. Will you forgive me, too?” When we admit our own sin and our own need for Jesus to our kids, it encourages them to do the same.Sam and the Sticky Situation: A Book About Whining
by Ginger Hubbard and Al Roland, Illustrated by Veronika Kotyk
Print ISBN: 978-1-64507-200-3
February 21, 2022 / Retail Price: $16.99
RELIGION / Christian Ministry / Children About the Authors Ginger Hubbard speaks at women’s events, parenting conferences, and homeschool conventions across the country, and cohosts the Parenting with Ginger Hubbard podcast. Engaging every audience with charisma and warmth, Hubbard’s unforgettable and life changing messages enlighten and inspire women from coast to coast. She has been interviewed on national and international television and radio programs, including Focus on the Family, Revive Our Hearts, and Family Life Today.Hubbard is the bestselling author of Don’t Make Me Count to Three, Wise Words for Moms, and I Can’t Believe You Just Said That and the coauthor of the Teaching Children to Use Their Words Wisely series.Ginger and her husband, Ronnie, have four adult children and live in Opelika, Alabama, where they enjoy working together from home.Learn more and listen to her podcast at www.GingerHubbard.com. She can also be found on Facebook (@OfficialGingerHubbard) and Instagram (@ginger.hubbard).  Al Roland has worked as a software developer for over thirty-six years. He enjoys spending time with his family, long road trips, mountain biking, adventure, and serving several ministries including RYFO which provides Christian host homes for traveling musicians. He is the coauthor of the Teaching Children to Use Their Words Wisely series.

Al and his wife, Jennifer, live in Opelika, Alabama where they raised and homeschooled their four children.  About the Illustrator:

Veronika Kotyk is a Ukrainian illustrator who is passionate about creating quirky characters and bright worlds for children’s books. After receiving a fine art degree, she explored foreign cultures and various forms of art. Her awards include the 2017 stArt Award and a gold medal at Mom’s Choice Awards. She is the illustrator for the Teaching Children to Use Their Words Wisely series.