Should i console on a consistently crying 5 year old?

[anthony713]

ok. so currently i am responsible to babysit my niece. my biggest qualm with her is she cries on everything. when she doesnt like to do things, or eat things. but my biggest problem is when her parents leave her with me for the day, and when she needs to nap during the afternoon. As soon as the TV timer goes off, she starts to cry. i do not know if trying to console her will train her eventually to stop crying all the time. even when she wakes up, she starts crying. The only time she does not cry is when it's her parents doing the stuff. I want her to not cry all the time when her parents won't be around, because eventually, i won't be here to take care of all the crying. So, the question is, should i console her every time she starts to cry during nap times, or should i leave her alone? also, should i even bother trying to console her whenever she starts crying profusely whenever she doesnt want to do her homework, chores, etc?

[ennya0301]

I agree with other comments about napping...5 year old should not nap..I have 3.5 year old who doesn't nap goes to bed at 8 and gets good amount of sleep...I also think tv timer is a bad idea for 5 year old ...she should be allowed to watch a show or two from the beginning to the end and told in advance that's all she gets for now rather then abruptly stopping something she is watching...I believe if you really get to the bottom of the reasons she is crying the issue will be easier to address. ..in general I console my kids when they are scared or hurt

[adgal]

I will admit, I'm also struggling with the whole idea that a 5 year old needs a nap.  By 3 or 4, most children are pretty much done with napping, as long as they are getting a decent amount of sleep at night.  Beyond that, I would also suspect that she is testing the waters with crying during activities she does not want to do...ie" chores and homework.  I wouldn't necessarily console, but more explain that these are the jobs we must do, and the jobs must be done before we can have fun (btw, how much homework does she have at 5?  Is she in kindergarten?).  Support her, acknowledge that she is sad, but don't give in would be my strategy.

[Sandman2]

   Your comment was, "and when she needs to nap during the afternoon. As soon as the TV timer goes off, she starts to cry. "  So, I am assuming that the timer means that the tv goes off and she has to take a nap.  Which I assume that she does not want to do and would rather watch tv.  Seems pretty normal to me.  First question would be does she need the nap?  Does she actually go to sleep?  5 is getting to be an age where naps are not needed as much -  if at all.  Kindergartens have pretty much given up on that idea too.   So, I guess my first question would be, does she actually go to sleep during her nap time?   And if she eventually does, I would have to wonder at what time she goes to bed at night?   The whole nap thing should be evaluated as to if she needs it or if it is outdated at her age.
   Anyway, one way to deal with the crying is to say that it sounds like you must be really tired with all the crying that you are doing (for whatever reason she is crying).  I think that you need to go lay down until you stop crying and then we can continue.   Don't console her, just walk her to the bedroom while repeating as soon as you show me that you are not tired by stopping your crying, we will continue.

[KaylaMarie25]

Does she cry when her parents actually leave? If she does, she could have separation anxiety. As for nap time, console her only if she wakes up. Does she fall asleep BEFORE the TV timer goes off? Or is she still awake when it goes off and gets upset that it went off? My stepson will cry when he wakes up if no one else is in the room with him (he usually falls asleep in the living room). That's when we console him. For the whole crying when it comes to chores and/or homework, don't console her. Give her choices. Tell her she can't watch TV, go outside, play with toys until her chores/homework is done. The first time you do this she'll probably try to defy you, but keep up with it and tell her parents that this is what you're doing. Hope that helped =]

[samiam403]

From what I can tell it depends on the situation.like as far as chores and not wanting to ear certain things,no don't console her.nap time is different,if she wakes up crying maybe its cause no one is there? Or its just a habit.as far as the other things she knows what she can get away with WITH WHO she can get away with it.she wont try it with her parents cause she knows its unacceptable,with you she might be just testing. try asking the parents what they do when she cries you could try the same thing.hope this helps