“You Don’t Love Me! I Don’t Want to Go to School!”
Dear Sharon, How do you respond to a child who says “You don’t love me…. if you did you wouldn’t send me to school.” Dear Parent, Dramatic statements such as “You don’t love me!” or
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One Way to Avoid Power Battles
“You are a bad Mommy!” “I hate you Daddy!” These phrases are sometimes said when children are upset with their Mom or Dad. Parents of course are often alarmed or hurt by such powerful emotions.
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The Value of Role Reversals
Sometimes playing games that reverse the role of parent and child can be fun and lighten tension producing tasks. For example if your child hates to have their hair washed letting them wash your hair
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An Idea to Help an Uncommunicative Child
If a child won’t talk about something verbally sometimes they are willing to do so “in writing.” Setting up a little mailbox in your home for short “discussions” can sometimes be fun and help. I
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When Can “Time Outs” Work?
“Time outs” can work best when they offer a “cooling off” period for child and/or parent. If someone can get “their head on straight” from a break in the upheaval then usually things get better.
Toast for Dinner?
A Mom and Dad came to meet with me because their 2 year old son was hitting children and arguing with caregivers in his day care center. Both parents worked full time. Their child had
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My Child Doesn’t Want to go to School!
Dear Sharon, My daughter is five and has been to a Pre school where we had no problem. Suddenly she doesn’t want to go to school. Our mornings are crazy. Kindergarten is great! Why doesn’t
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Intertwined 12 Year Old Twins
We have identical twin daughters who rely on each other for just about everything. They dress alike, act alike and are each other’s best friends. They are 12 and we are concerned that they are
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Can Mornings Ever Go Well? – “Shaking the Yukkies Out”
A Mom of two children often had trouble getting her children out the door in the morning. Impatient tones and upset were often common. Everyone would arrive at their destination drained and worried about being
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Picking your Battles
Sometimes Moms and Dads find themselves saying “NO” to their child almost all of the time. It is easier for young people to take in guidance if parents can pick their battles, offering one suggestion
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