My 2-year-old (member of identical boy twins) hits me whenever anyone tries to hug or kiss me (including my mom, sisters, brother, even his father.) Sometimes the extended family members tease him by hugging me. How should I deal with him? Should I ignore or act out explaining that it's ok? And why do I get to be hit although I'm not the one initiating the hugs?
My oldest daughter will be 5 in January. She is a reserved child and we have been noticing that she is a real follower with her friends as well as not wanting to try new things. She also tends to have a negative attitude frequently. Overall, she is a happy child and we have a warm, safe family environment. She has one younger sister, almost 3, who is much more outgoing and adventurous. I just wanted to see if you have any suggestions to help her become more positive and outgoing. Thanks.
My son is a typical 9-year-old boy. He's active, funny and athletic. However, he has a significant learning disability with reading. His older brothers sometimes tease him when he can't read the directions on a video game. He came home one day very sad and asked me why his brain doesn't allow him to read like everyone else can. How do I make sure he doesn't lose his confidence and continues to view himself in a positive way? How do I stop his brothers from teasing him about his disability?
My daughter is beautiful but a little chubby. She is 10 years old and is getting more and more aware and sensitive about her weight. She sometimes gets very upset that she doesn't "look like everyone else." So far, she's still a fairly positive, upbeat, happy kid but I worry if she will stay this way as she gets older and peer pressure intensifies.
Whining! I need a few tips on how to deal with my now whiny child.
Over the past six months, I have noticed that my little girl, who is now 4 years old, has been picking at her nails. They look as if she has bitten her nails down, but she is just picking the nail away. She is doing this to her fingernails and toenails. Should I be concerned? Do you have any suggestions for me? I try not to draw to much attention to it. I used to bite my nails and the more my mother would say stuff, the more I would bite them. I was a nervous child.
I have a child who performs best when under pressure (or given greater challenges). Does that mean I should "always" try to put him in situations where the bar has been raised higher?
My son is a "dip your toe in the pool" kind of kid, who takes his time to warm up to new things. My husband is concerned that our son will end up "never taking a swim" without prodding. I think he just needs time to warm up and take it at his own pace. How do we figure out the best way to work together to support our son and give him the encouragement or time he needs to try new things?
Anger—how to show it healthily and not stuff it then explode.
I sometimes wonder if my kids are too resilient when it comes to losses in sports. They don't seem to care that much if they lose a soccer game. Shouldn't kids really want to win and be disappointed (but not despondent) if they don't win?
My son has severe anxiety about going to sleep. The only thing he can say is the monster’s in his head. I have cut video games out 2 hours before bed, TV one hour, then we read the last 30 minutes before bed to relax him. He still wakes up several times during the night and isn't sleeping very well at all. He never seems rested... what should I do to help ease his anxiety?
- Pre-K and Younger
- Kindergarten - Grade 2
My husband (soon-to-be ex) states that I am too close to our daughter. Is it possible to be too close to your child? I am very involved in her school and know all of her friends. I encourage her to talk to me about anything. I believe my husband's statement stems from his jealousy of my relationship with our daughter. My intent is to make sure she knows that I am always here for her and I will love her no matter what. Would you provide your insight, please?
I have a 5 year old whose catch phrase is, "I can't do it." We have heard it at home and the teacher has heard it at school. Maybe it's because he has grown up in the shadow of a very intelligent older brother, but he seems to lack confidence and be afraid to try new things, especially mental things like letters, words, etc.
I have a wonderful 2.5-year-old son who speaks clearly, expresses himself, has very good manners and has always enjoyed going to his daycare. Recently my son has been hitting, spitting and kicking other kids at the school (for about 4 months). The teachers and I have spoken about it. They say that there doesn't have to be a reason for it, he'll walk up to a child who is having a snack and just hit him. We try time-outs, taking away toys and nothing helps. The doctor says it's a stage. Is it?