What to Do When a Child Cries and Complains When Their Needs Are Not Met

Question

My son is two years old, and he doesn’t cry when he’s in pain or falls. However, when his needs are not met, he cries endlessly. What should I do?

Answer

Children are still young and their ability to express themselves through language is not yet fully developed, so crying when their needs are not met is a natural response. Some parents, unable to bear their child’s crying and complaining, random satisfy their demands, which is equivalent to giving an implicit reward for the child’s behavior. Therefore, when a child makes a request, parents must adhere to principles, satisfying what can be met and using appropriate methods to defer satisfaction for what cannot be met immediately, such as diverting their attention. For principle-based issues, adults should persist in their principles; otherwise, the child may develop the habit of using crying to blackmail parents in the future.