We all love getting attention and being noticed. But sometimes it goes overboard. In present times, children are turning into attention seekers. The age of social media and Internet has engulfed people in its fetters. Children leave no stone unturned to seek attention, resorting to most stupid, meaningless and illogical means. Hankering after attention has become the latest fad for which the interest seems to be mounting each day.
The changing behavioral patterns of a child drills in him or her the hunger for attention. Attention is both positive and negative. It has both good impact and bad effects as well. The yearning for attention should not go to extremes to the point of being irksome and obnoxious. Parents and family members go through a lot to get rid of attention-seeking behaviors of their child so that he could do away with the futile things. The trivia has chained the kids tightly these days.
An attention seeker child draws attention towards him or her by any means. There are two kinds of attention :
#1. Positive Attention
When parents or elders compliment children, they are encouraged and try to work hard and be smarter. This is positive attention. This improves their mental growth as it inspires them. Also, they develop a habit of doing something good which is attention seeking so that they earn more praise.
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#2. Negative Attention
An attention seeker child tries to divert everyone’s attention towards him by indulging in mischievous acts and behavior. He or she begins to shout, break things, make noise, throw hiss-fit and many such things. We should have a strict and assertive approach while dealing with attention seeking children. They can turn into unruly beings if not objected, or simply ignored.
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An attention seeker child spend energy on various things so that people notice him. It is done to persuade parents into something most of the time. Some of the attention seeking behaviors that children are accustomed to are stated below :
#1. Sudden Demands
When attention-seeking children abruptly put up a demand before parents, they are noticed by everyone no matter if their demands are fulfilled or not. Your child will have desires which spring out of nowhere to draw attention from people around him or her.
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#2. Pretension
If your child happens to be showing off his material possessions or anything for that matter, he or she falls under the category of an attention seeker child. Children go to great lengths for becoming noticed which is the reason for their ego and overconfidence. Parents should try to halt them from early on in life.
#3. Eating Profusely
Children are very fussy and pernickety when it comes to food, but if they consume food immoderately or otherwise, such as give up on food, their sole purpose is to show people.
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#4. Rebellion
Everyone has the right to make his or her own decisions, however, resorting to rebellious means is not acceptable. Moreover, rebellion comes for a cause for the welfare of the society, meaningless rebellion to attract attention is merely a façade which should be dealt with severely.
#5. Disobeying
Attention seeking problem is a terrible one that makes the child go towards disorder and chaos. Children begin to disobey everything that the elders say. They do things on their own at appointing which is very crucial. If not taken care of, it can reach to abysmal levels thereby impacting the future of a child.
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#6. Displaying Talent
An attention seeker child does good as well, he or she works the midnight oil to earn accolades and adulation. When a child starts doing something to hone his skills to showcase his talent, parents must come forward and encourage him or her. This helps in boosting the creativity and brings positivity in a child, but it must be kept in mind that this display doesn’t turn into a mere show off.
#7. Ridiculous Behavior
Children try to be funny and hilarious by incorporating humor in their conversations. People notice them, praise them, applaud them, criticize them and what not. Acting like a clown is the most observed attention seeking activity.
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#8. Fighting And Shouting
Screaming loud and fighting without any good reason is adopted by an attention seeker child. Children go through pangs of loud and rude behavior, quarrel, and arguments. They are completely useless and just a medium to gain attention.
Because of the unending hunger of attention, the attention seeking children cross the boundaries and parents go in a worry zone where they want to prevent their children from this disorder which is detrimental to the lives of kids. You can stop attention seeking behavior of child by :
#1. Focusing On Positive Attention
Attention, as above discussed, is both positive and negative. If attention turns into something positive that can inspire children, they can learn new things and do away with the negative part of the attention. For instance, if children excel at studies or sports, give a pat on their back. This increases their self-confidence and they feel proud.
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#2. Telling Them Appropriate Things
You need not say no to things you don’t want your attention seeking children to do but you can give a green signal to things you feel are good for your kids and also fall within their area of interest. This will help you slacken off their attention seeking problem and form a bond between parents and children as well.
#3. Ignoring Negative Behaviour
Do not unnecessarily burden yourself with heaps of tension, else you would be wracked with anxiety. Just forget the child’s demands and cut their screaming, shouting, fighting dead. They will realize that it is no good to be an attention seeker child.
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#4. Spending Time With Children
Try to give your kids your time and talk to them. Talk, talk and talk. You can associate with them in a few days and know the nature of their behavior and the reasons behind it. You can tackle problems easily by talking to your kids. Parents should provide them a healthy environment so that there is a birth of noble thoughts.
#5. Showering Love
Tell children you love them. Shower affection on them without hesitance. Children love being loved and random acts of kindness and gratitude can do wonders. If not wholly, the child can get over the attention seeking problem, partially. A little progress in behavior also counts.
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#6. Setting Boundaries
Parents must learn to punish their child when they are wrong. A soft, mellow approach doesn’t solve the purpose. When you set behavior boundaries, a child keeps in mind the outcome of crossing the line. For instance, if you do not like your child’s addiction to getting into fights and arguments, tell him or her straight that if the mistake is repeated twice, they would not be forgiven. He or she will think twice before repeating it again for the fear of being reprimanded.
#7. Understanding The Importance Of Age
Kids, who are smaller in age demand attention from mothers to feel loved. Parents should bear in mind the age of their kid and act accordingly. Punishing a five-year-old kid like a 12-year-old is unfair. The boundaries are to be set for parents as well.
Do you have views on attention seeking children? Let us know in the comments on how we can deal with it.
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