How to Get Your Child to Stop Asking for Sweets

A child begging for sweets can seem difficult to manage for parents. Your child may use persuasive techniques to cajole or harass you to get the goodies, so you may feel unsure about how to respond to such tactics. With a firm, yet loving, approach, you can help your child understand that begging for sweets is not the way to get what he wants.

Instructions

    • 1

      Stop buying the sweet foods you don̵7;t want to serve your child, suggests the Kids Health website. If you don̵7;t want your child filling up on candy and unhealthy desserts, don̵7;t purchase them and don̵7;t keep them in your pantry, refrigerator and freezer, where your child will find them and want to eat them.

    • 2

      Provide healthier alternatives if you don̵7;t like your children asking for sweet treats that often, advises the PBS Parents website. You might make your own homemade treats flavored with unrefined sweeteners such as honey or maple syrup. You could also offer choices sweetened with fruit puree or fruit juice. Another alternative is to stock your refrigerator with a variety of fresh fruits so your child can grab fruit when he̵7;s hungry for something sweet.

    • 3

      Set a healthy example of how to eat in moderation, according to the Kids Health website. Let your child witness you choosing healthy food options that are not only sweetly delicious, but also enjoyable. If you consistently make these choices, your child is likely to pattern himself after your example and make similar choices.

    • 4

      Allow your child to enjoy some of the sweet treats he craves, suggests the Early Childhood Parenting Center website. If you forbid all treats, you may incite an even stronger longing for them in your child, which could make the issue more difficult. Instead, give your child this special treat once in a while to avoid craving.

    • 5

      Maintain consistency in your stance about sweets to ensure that your child respects your decision. If you change your mind regularly, your child may continue to harass you.

    • 6

      Resist the urge to fall prey to a child̵7;s manipulations, too, advises educator Sara Bean, with the Empowering Parents website. A child might seek to manipulate you through tears, guilt and anger. Stay firm in your decision, regardless of the emotions your child uses or words she says to try to get you to change your mind. With firm resolve, your child will eventually learn that manipulation won̵7;t work.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • The Importance of Giving Children Boundaries
      Though most children lament the existence of rules, deep down inside, they actually crave these boundaries. Children who are given clear expectations about how they are to behave and conduct themselves are better able to thrive, according to the AskD
    • How to Teach Your Child to Ride a Bike Without Training Wheels
      Riding a bike without training wheels is a very exciting time for both child and parent(s). Most children learn to ride their bike without training wheels around the age of 5 or 6. However, it can also be frustrating when you arent quite sure how to
    • Children's Activities in Eureka Springs, AR
      Eureka Springs, founded in 1879, is a historical city in Arkansas that was once declared a "City of the First Class." In 2001, the city was named by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of 12 Distinctive Destinations, in part