Kids' Bad Habits—and How to Break Them
Ready to help your child curb unpleasant behaviors? Try some advice from the experts!

Poor Manners

"Always reinforce good manners and always, always, always remind them, 'What do you say?' or 'What's the word I like to hear when you ask for something?'" says Berkenkamp. Kids need to be constantly reminded of our expectations and then encouraged when they behave the way we want them to. When your children speak politely, try saying things like "What a nice way to ask for something!" and "I love hearing the words 'please' and 'thank you!'"

Whining

There isn't a parent of a toddler or preschooler who hasn't experienced occasional whining. "But you don't have to listen to it," says Berkenkamp. "Make some standard guidelines about whining, the consequences for doing so, and stick with them." If you make a rule that your kids won't get what they want when they whine, and then you give in out of frustration, your kids won't understand your real expectations. "And if whining got them what they wanted the first time, they will try it again," warns Berkenkamp.

Picky Eating

Young kids are notoriously picky eaters. Most parents fight the food battle at one time or another, but for some, it is an all out war to get their children to eat nutritiously. Laurie Higgins, a pediatric dietician at the Joslin Clinic in Boston, says that positive reinforcement is key. "Praise them for trying new foods and keep offering the food, even if it seems your child did not like it," she advises. Higgins says that many toddlers have to try a food 10 to 14 times before they decide if they like it or not.

If your child refuses to eat a meal you prepared, Higgins says you should offer only one substitution. She suggests something easy like a slice of bread with cheese or peanut butter. "The child has a choice between the food on their plate or that one stand-by," says Higgins. "You can't cook for someone's mood," she adds.

She also cautions against discussing the child's eating habits in front of him or her. "The child knows it bothers you, and this empowers them," she says. Additionally, she suggests putting less food on the child's plate than you think he or she will eat. "Kids can feel overwhelmed by a plateful of adult-sized portions."