Busy, overloaded days often make us unaware that family communication is suffering. Congratulations to those parents who take notice and want to improve the situation. However maybe it is more the âwhatâ than the âhowâ thatâs the problem. For example, if you ask parents to list what they talk with their school aged children or […]
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Does your teenage son want a summer job? Are you wondering how to convince him that he needs to start doing something about it right now? Teens looking for summer work should start serious job hunting tactics no later than March 1. If he doesnât believe you, there are some good resource books in your
Spanking teaches the use of fear and power over someone more vulnerable than yourself. Is this what you really want your child to learn and to practice when she is an adult? You say “it seems to work”. Well, I believe what’s happening is that she is simply repressing her anger at being spanked. She
This is the season for graduation parties, and we all know that some teen graduates will drink, drive, and die during these celebrations. Sometimes parents just assume that their teens know how they feel about drinking and driving, or about saying no to alcohol. However, many studies of teens prove that if kids do not
I believe in being the wall against which kids must push up against and that parenting is not a popularity contest. I think it’s usually safe to talk to one’s feelings ( i.e., “I need to talk about our confrontation. It really scared me. It must not happen again because that behavior is just not
Inhalants are a group of volatile (breathable) substances abused by sniffing/inhaling. These are legal substances, most of which are found in everyday household products; not normally thought of as drugs, they have drug-like effects on users. Regulation for misuse is difficult, and the best prevention is educating children about the lethal effects of misuse. Inhalants
Q — After eight years of living with his mother, my 16-year- old son has decided to move in with me. Sharing my apartment with him and his belongings is a shock! I feel guilty about resenting him for intruding. He’s my son and I love him. But our fairly close relationship is being jeopardized
It is normal for a male to experience pain with an erection. Often this pain is related to having an erection that is prolonged in time. That is an erection that might last 20 or 30 minutes can be painful. The reason for this is that an erection is the pooling of blood or accumulation
Many parents are concerned about driving safety and their children. This concern arises not only for teens but for others who encounter the new drivers on the road. Statistics prove that new, inexperienced drivers are at the highest risk for accidents, which is why insurance rates for 16- to 20-year-olds are so high. The time
A letter I received from a mother in Pennsylvania told the tale of her 15-year-old daughter who, she explained punctuates all her conversations with finger pokes and punches, and she leans into the mother or pulls on me whenever she wants to say something. Most of the time the daughter tries to pass this off
Believe me, there is no best list for first books, and there are no rules. If there is some book that you yourself were particularly fond of as a child, your own enthusiasm in now reading it to your child will be contagious, and that will be your “right book for starting.” Personally, I always
When young children are angry, they scream or throw a tantrum. As they get older they say hurtful things like “I hate you!”. When they’re mad, they go right for the jugular. How should you respond? First, respect your child’s need to express angry feelings. Don’t take these exaggerated comments personally. You can reply, “Well,
Children should not be allowed to interrupt brief visits by your friends. After an initial greeting and some brief attention, your child should not be allowed to crawl on guests, or to interrupt the adult conversation. Your friends will appreciate your taking a stand about this. • First, clarify your expectation for your child. “Please
A spoiled child makes unfair demands on others, doesn’t respond to “no”, and constantly wants an adult to entertain him. The spoiled child gets his way with whining and tantrums. Spoiled children aren’t happy because they don’t get along well with age mates or grown-ups. The main cause is leniency and giving in. The opposite
Don’t be afraid to say “no” to your child. Children need limits. If you don’t make the rules, your child will. Left to their own devices, most children will spoil themselves, so start rules to protect your sanity by four months of age. Have rules for safety by eight months of age. Gradually add rules
You’re trying to leave for work, a dental appointment, or an errand, but your child isn’t dressed. What to do about this procrastination? ⢠First, give your child ten minutes warning before departure. Use a kitchen timer and encourage her to beat the timer. Always praise her for being ready early or on time. â¢
Over eating and under exercising are habits that children pick up early in life. With each passing year they’re more difficult to change. The easiest years for helping a child maintain a healthy weight are during the first five years because you have almost complete control over his diet. First, keep snacks to two per
Feelings about nudity vary from family to family. Exposure to nudity with siblings or the parent of the same sex is fine and probably will continue indefinitely in locker rooms and so forth, but nudity with the parent or sibling of the opposite sex probably should be phased out between the ages of four and
We need to teach our children not to hurt other children. Hitting, slapping, pinching, scratching, shoving, knocking down, hair pulling and biting are all unacceptable behaviors. Clarify for your child, “We don’t hit. We don’t hurt people. Disagreements are settled by talking, not hitting.” If children do fight, respond swiftly: • First, intervene at the
Children of all ages and most adults have some food dislikes. If this is the case in your home consider the following: • First, most complaints are about vegetables such as spinach or broccoli. Vegetables are over rated. There are no essential foods, just essential food groups. Since fruits and vegetables are in the same
