How to deal with a pouting child?

Question

Just wondering if there is any way to deal with a 5 year old pouting child besides ignore her. Its an almost everyday occassion in my classroom. Today she refused to go to music class so I took away her reccess, so I took away her recess. The child easily spent half of her day pouting.

Answer 1

talk to the parents about it! how about asking the girl whats wrong there might be a reason other than just because!

Answer 2

Kids pout for reasons (although we may not always understand those reasons). She might be doing it just for attention, she might be sad about something... I think the most important thing to do is talk to her. Let her know that she seems sad (because she's frowning, looking down, crossing her arms... define the "pouty" behavior so she knows you're getting it) and ask if she'd like to talk about it. If she does, she will. If she doesn't, leave it alone. Let her know that you're ready to listen when she wants to talk. Don't coddle her or push her for the information. She either doesn't want to talk about it, or she's just pouting for attention - either way, you're reinforcing the behavior. Ask once, then leave it alone.

I wouldn't take away recess for pouting. Kids need that physical outlet - recess is so vital!  I wonder what you mean by "refused" to go. Did you give her the option of staying behind and sitting quietly in a chair? Did you give her an option of going to the music room, but not participating if she didn't want to?

Just look at the options you're giving her - give her the option to talk and the option to be alone with her thoughts. If she's "refusing" to participate in activities you think are necessary, let her know that her other option is to do nothing and stick to it. And remember that she's only 5 - 5 year old girls are moody little people. It'll pass, with patience from you and her parents.

Best of luck!

Answer 3

do the parents know? the principal? Sounds like this might require some intervention either by the school or the parents.

Answer 4

Just say what my pappy used to do to me. "shut up or I'll give you something to cry about"

Answer 5

Flick the child in the lip and say thats what pouting lips get.

Answer 6

um... i don't like violence.  bribe, blackmail, tell on her (snickers)

anyway.... lecture her, and send a notice to her parents.

parents should lecture her too.... until she crys... then lecture her again, and the cycle goes on and on until she stops pouting.  Complicated though

Answer 7

I may get shunned for suggesting this. How about "pouting" when she won't do anything for you? She may see how annoying and ineffective pouting is when she sees someone else do it to her. Then again it may back-fire. It's only a suggestion, not saying that it may work.

Answer 8

it's a girl right? well if it is just find out why she's crying so much and then comfort her. give her a hug or something. don't hit though because then she'll start crying another time...

Answer 9

send her to the principals office

Answer 10

Put a bag over her head.

Answer 11

just show her that its fun maybe you should talk to her and see what she doesn't like than help her with it

Answer 12

I had a child like this in my class too. I told her I didn't know why she was upset, and if she wants something she needs to use her words. I repeated a couple times through the day,( To the other children) " Hmmm.. I wish i knew what Sara wanted- she won't talk. Oh well- lets go have fun!"

Answer 13

You know, it' really hard to see a pouting child inside the class and it's more harder when it becomes habitual, because children must be bubbly , happy and full of energy. Well, I might suggest a little of psychology here. Why don't you play a game with her; "The Magic Mirror". Tell her your magic mirror tells the truth. Let her see her own reflection in the mirror. For sure she will see herself pouting. Tell her how she feels about her reflection? Is she pretty doing the pouting? what about smiling at herself in the mirror? Is she pretty smiling.what does she feels about that?, This girl needs so much attention that when it wasn't given her way she felt bad, so take time with her for a while and then later on, you can hide the mirror and tell her what the mirror is telling you about her face everyday. You can also do this as game for all the children....looking at our reflection... if you smile at the mirror it smiles back at you, then do it with each partner; I'm sure you'll be having fun with the kids. Goodluck.

Answer 14

Tell her that if she wants to pout, she can, but she'll have to do it in the corner so she won't interfere with the other kids having fun.  Tell her when she's feeling less pouty she can come over and play, but until she's ready to come play without pouting, she'll have to stay in the corner.

That way, you acknowledge her feelings, but let her know it's not appropriate behavior to get attention.  

Good luck!

Answer 15

Just give a talk to the class about attitudes,(age appropiate) that might fix the problem.

Answer 16

Slap her.   Hard.

Answer 17

give them a toy.

Answer 18

Tell the kid to knock it off!  Punish her pouting by putting her in time out.  Are you a teacher and this isn't your kid??  Talk with the parent.  Always document what's going on, so you always have a back up.

Answer 19

ignore her pouting and praise her when she did something good. this way she'll know pouting is useless, she wouldn't get any attention and that when she did something good, she's rewarded.