Attention-seeking behavior: How to deal with attention-seeking behavior

Many parents have to deal with this sort of behavior. Most parents, if not all, have had to deal with their child engaging in attention-seeking behavior. This is a common behavioral issue for parents, and most parents don't know how to deal with attention-seeking behavior. The fact of the matter is that attention is a core attachment need of children, and thus when they are deprived of attention, they act out.

Giving children necessary attention is part of the Christian doctrine of mutual submission. See Colossians 3:20-21 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and grace of parents. Children are to rest securely in the sacrifice of parents, with parent believers resting securely in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Parents are to be extensions of Christ in the family home, dutifully and selflessly submitting to children as they would to God, expecting absolutely nothing in return, with children resting safely and securely in the submission of parents. Parents are to submit to children as their enemy, from beneath yet from above, revering and fearing children as vulnerable extensions of God.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or offenses, namely the slightest of personal offense perceived by a child, including, but not limited to, the slightest of offensive touch or speech perceived by the child, stemming from entitlement. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul, and understood in its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including any punishments or controlling demeanor towards children. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting, after punishing their children one last time. Parents who punished their children were charged with kidnapping, with "kidnapping" being defined under the Law as the slightest of damages or offenses stemming from hostage-taking - child punishment was seen in biblical times as holding your child hostage merely for things they did wrong, thereby treating your child as a quartered slave. Paul here was lifting up the Law in order to convict a group of Greek Christian parents who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punishing children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child.

Attention-seeking behavior can be understood as a cry for help. In biblical times, mothers intuitively knew that children who cried merely for attention needed that attention. When children cried in biblical times, mothers responded by cooing and holding children close to their bosom, reassuring them with the phrase "this too will pass". Mother and child were both naked when in the family home, with the mother holding the child frequently with sustaining warmth, and possibly allowing the child to suckle her teat if milk-hungry.

Children have five main categories of needs; food, water, shelter, transportation, and attachment - and the greatest of these needs is attachment! The core of a child's attachment needs is the need for attention. This is why a mother should hold her baby constantly instead of isolate him/her in a crib or stroller. This way, when a young child wants attention, all mothers have to do is pick them up, and all is solved.

Christian attachment parenting is distinct from all other forms of attachment parenting by its stress on child nudity, also known as birth nudity. In biblical times, women went naked when in the family home, and otherwise wore a thin, revealing dress - like an apron - when out and about. Children always went naked, until they became adults. This setup was to hasten the formation of a secure attachment, and also make it easier for mothers to give children skin-on-skin comfort and sustenance. This sort of sustaining warmth is what is necessary to give children the attention they need, when they are begging for it. If a child's behavior is begging for attention, why not give it to them, the right way?

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be forever cast in to the lake of fire and burning sulfur,, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend in to the abyss which is the ever-burning Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!