John's Articles
Young Children Attending Funeral
Posted on 6/14/2011
Children at funerals? Q: My father-in-law has about one month to live. Should our children - ages 7, 5 and 2 - attend the funeral or viewing? A. Sit down with the older two children,...
Read More4-Year-Old Boy Not Socializing with Other Children
Posted on 5/31/2011
Boy doesn't like playing with unfamiliar children Q. My son will be 4 years old in a couple of months. He is having problems playing and relating to groups of kids in social situations. For...
Read More4-Year-Old Girl Disobedient Around Friend
Posted on 5/10/2011
Ill-behaved child = thoughtless parents Q. Our 4-year-old is fairly well-behaved, but her best friend is definitely not. We just got back from a weekend trip with that family, and I was...
Read More5-Year-Old Girl Neediness
Posted on 4/5/2011
I'm-growing-up list for neediness Q: My daughter, who is 5, relies on me far too much. All through the day, she asks me to do simple things for her like get her a glass of water or help her put...
Read More4-Year-Old Girl Clothes and Tantrums
Posted on 3/29/2011
Tantrums halted And now, on to a more uplifting topic: Several weeks ago, a mom wrote complaining that her 4-year-old daughter would not wear the clothes picked out the night before, even if...
Read More4-Year-Old Girl Correcting Older Sibling
Posted on 2/15/2011
Q. Our 4-year-old daughter is constantly correcting her 9-year-old brother. She tells him - to use a recent example - that he's making noise when he drinks something, then proceeds to show him how...
Read More5-Year-Old Girl Disobedience
Posted on 1/25/2011
Sassy obedience Q: When I give my 5-year-old daughter an instruction of some sort or other, she does what I tell her to do, but not without some amount of "lip." She'll mutter under her breath...
Read More4-Year-Old Cleaning Room
Posted on 11/23/2010
Locked in her room Q: I don't require our 4-year-old to take a nap, but I do make her stay in her room for an hour after lunch. The problem is that while she's in there, she dismantles her...
Read MorePreschool Education Programs
Posted on 10/12/2010
Preschool without shame? What a pity The National Association for the Education of Young Children and I don't see eye to eye on many things - maybe anything. We don't even agree on a definition...
Read More4-Year-Old Boy Preschool Education
Posted on 8/17/2010
Many preschools go about it all wrong Q. Our 4-year-old grandson is enrolled in a pre-kindergarten class where all the kids are beginning to learn to read and write. The problem is that he...
Read More5-Year-Old Son - Phonics is the Best Way to Teach Reading
Posted on 7/6/2010
Phonics is best way to begin teaching reading Q: Our son was already registered for junior kindergarten before we became aware that you believe in phonic-based reading instruction. He will be 5...
Read More5-Year-Old Girl and Facts of Life
Posted on 7/6/2010
Facts of life Q: I'm pregnant with our second child, which has raised all sorts of questions for our daughter, who just turned 5. Her questions include, "How did the baby get in your tummy?"...
Read More4-Year-Old Girl - Sensory Processiong Disorder
Posted on 5/25/2010
Sensory processing disorder might not be real condition On their website (www.spdfoundation.net), the Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation defines SPD (also known as Sensory Integration...
Read More5-Year-Old Boy Refuses To Be In School Play
Posted on 5/11/2010
Skip the drama on kid's theatrics Q: Our normally very obedient 5-year-old son flat out refuses to get on stage and sing at his preschool's musical. At last year's musical, he made a huge scene...
Read More4-Year-Old Boy "Watch Me" Requests
Posted on 3/2/2010
Watch mom going batty over 'watch me' requests Q. Shortly after our second child was born a year ago, my 4-year-old son began asking me to stop what I'm doing - usually something with the baby...
Read More4-Year-Old Girl Snack Requests
Posted on 2/23/2010
If child is hungry, give healthy snacks Q. My almost 4-year-old daughter asks for food constantly. I can't tell if this is a boredom thing or an attention thing, but regardless I am unsure how...
Read MoreYoung Siblings Bickering
Posted on 2/16/2010
Siblings can't bicker if they're not together Q. My 7- and 4-year-old daughters play together all day long, but the play is punctuated every few minutes with bickering of the "I'm telling!" and...
Read More4-Year-Old Girl is Messy
Posted on 2/9/2010
It's always one step at a time with 4-year-olds Q. My 4-year-old is just plain messy. I expect her to help out around the house, and she does, but she rarely finishes a chore. If I ask her to...
Read MoreDiscipline Preschool Boy with Recurrent Ear Infections
Posted on 12/22/2009
Question of the Week: The mother of a preschool boy asks if and how she should discipline him when he is suffering one of his recurrent ear infections. The youngster is generally well-behaved, but...
Read More5-Year-Old Girl Clings to Mom
Posted on 10/27/2009
CURE FOR SCREAMING CLINGER Clever Solution of the Week: A couple of generations back and more, when parents still sought child-rearing advice from grandparents and other wise elders, those wise...
Read MoreKindergartener Questionnaire
Posted on 10/20/2009
KINDERGARTEN QUESTIONNAIRE A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY Q. My kindergartener brought home a questionnaire that asks: Do you like your class? Do you have friends in your class? Does your teacher...
Read More4-Year-Old Boy Not Very Social
Posted on 10/6/2009
RELAX AND LET AN INTROVERTED CHILD DEVELOP Q. My 4-year-old son is not fully engaged when he has a friend over. His twin sister makes friends easily and the difference between them is glaring....
Read MoreKindergarten Separation Anxiety
Posted on 8/4/2009
TAKE THE DRAMA OUT OF DROP-OFF TIME Q: I've been a public school teacher for quite a few years, and I wanted your opinion on the problem of kindergarten and even older children throwing fits...
Read More4-Year-Old Boy Sleeping Patterns
Posted on 7/7/2009
TIMING IS KEY TO FIXING KIDS' SLEEP PATTERNS Q. Under normal circumstances, which are rare, our 4-year-old son goes to bed uneventfully by 7:30 and is usually asleep before 7:45. He never...
Read MoreToilet Training: Just Do It
Posted on 4/28/2009
THIS GENERATION'S WAYS OF POTTY TRAINING HAS GOTTA GO What's it going to take for American parents to realize that just as it's far easier to house-train a 4-month-old puppy than a 1-year-old...
Read More4-Year-Old Boy Misbehaving in Public Places
Posted on 4/14/2009
DON'T LOSE YOUR COOL WITH CHILD - PULL TICKET This column first appeared in 2004. Q. When we take our 4-year-old into a store or restaurant, he begins misbehaving. How do you discipline a...
Read More4-Year-Old Boy Hitting Others at Preschool
Posted on 11/18/2008
KIDS WHO HURT OTHERS NEED TO BE STOPPED Q. Our 4-year-old son is hitting others at preschool and has to spend the afternoon in his room for this. In soccer, he's pushing kids down and tripping...
Read More5-Year-Old Girl Being Cruel to Disabled Sister
Posted on 11/18/2008
CRUELTY MEANS TOUGH RESPONSE IS IN ORDER Q. How should we deal with a 5-year-old girl who joins with two other girls at the bus stop in calling her 7-year-old disabled sibling a wacko? Talking...
Read More4-Year-Old Boy's Fear of the Dark and Being Left Alone
Posted on 9/23/2008
3 STRIKES AND HE SEES THE LIGHT Another mother shares how she solved her 4-year-old son's fear of the dark and fear of being left alone. He would not go into dark areas of the house, although...
Read More5-Year-Old Girl with Short-Lived Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Posted on 9/23/2008
BY OBEYING, SHE SHOWS HER LOVE Another creative mother reports that immediately after her fifth birthday, her daughter came down with oppositional defiant disorder. One morning, in the midst of...
Read More4-Year-Old Girl Tantrums
Posted on 8/26/2008
TELL 4-YEAR-OLD 'THE DOCTOR' SAYS TANTRUMS MUST END Q: My 4-year-old daughter still has very bad tantrums. When she does this on an outing, I immediately take her home. However, this affects...
Read MorePreSchool-Age Kids' Tantrums
Posted on 6/10/2008
TAMP DOWN TODDLER'S TANTRUMS EARLY An Atlanta pediatrician sent me an article from the February issue of Pediatric News describing research on tantrums in children ages 3-6. Intrigued, I spent...
Read More4-Year-Old Boy's Inappropriate Talk
Posted on 5/13/2008
TRY A LITTLE HUMOR TO COPE WITH TODDLER'S 'NASTY TALK' Our almost 4-year-old son has taken to saying nasty things to us. Last night, for example, when my husband was reading him a bedtime...
Read More6-Year-Old Boy Does Not Want to Play with 4-Year-Old Brother
Posted on 2/26/2008
DON'T FORCE SIBLINGS TO PLAY TOGETHER Q. My boys are 6 and 4. My older son prefers playing by himself, and when I require him to share with his younger brother, he will just quit what he is...
Read More5-Year-Old Boy Won't Sit Still
Posted on 2/12/2008
5-YEAR-OLD WON'T STOP ANTS-IN-PANTS DANCE Q. Our son just turned 5 and is a really good kid except that he won't sit still. It's driving me nuts. When he talks to you, he is constantly moving....
Read More5-Year-Old Girl Being Mean to Others
Posted on 1/8/2008
TAKE HARD LINE ON CHILD'S CRUELTY Q. My 5-year-old attends pre-kindergarten. Her teacher has called and sent home notes because my daughter and two other girls (who all got along at the...
Read More5-Year-Old Girl Taking Things From Parents Without Permission
Posted on 12/25/2007
IS 5-YEAR-OLD MANIPULATIVE? NOT REALLY - SHE'S JUST CURIOUS EDITOR'S NOTE: John Rosemond is on vacation. This column first appeared in 1985. Of all the myths associated with children and...
Read More4 - Year - Old - Girl Does Not Like Compliments
Posted on 12/4/2007
Too many compliments? Q. Our 4-year-old daughter doesn't like it when we compliment her for a good job or anything else she does well for that matter, including using good manners. We've...
Read More3 - Year - Old - Child Controlling Parent
Posted on 11/20/2007
Don't let child control you Q. My 3-year-old is a control freak. She's usually agreeable and obeys the first time more often than not. However, she often attempts to control her...
Read More5-Year-Old Boy Being Cruel To Friend
Posted on 11/13/2007
ZERO TOLERANCE FOR CRUELTY TO A FRIEND Q. My 5-year-old son plays with two other 5-year-olds. When he plays with just one of them, all goes well. Every time the three get together, he gangs...
Read More5-Year-Old Girl Has Questions About Killing And Death
Posted on 10/23/2007
WHY IS IT OK TO KILL VILLAINS? 5-YEAR-OLD NEEDS EXPLANATION Q. After watching movies about war and children's movies in which villains die, my 5-year-old has started asking questions about...
Read More5-Year-Old Anxious About Going To Kindergarten
Posted on 10/2/2007
Anxious kindergartner Q. Despite the fact that our 5-year-old daughter has an end-of-July birthday, my husband and I decided she was ready for kindergarten. The first week went great. She...
Read More5-Year-Old Girl Throwing Tantrums
Posted on 8/7/2007
SENSE OF HUMOR IS ESSENTIAL FOR HANDLING REBELLIOUS CHILD Q. Our middle child, 5, is aggressive, loud and disrespectful when anyone dares to deny her or make her do something she doesn't...
Read More4-Year-Old Boy Who Asks Nonstop Questions
Posted on 7/24/2007
CHILD'S CURIOSITY GETS OUT OF CONTROL HERE'S A WAY TO LIMIT QUESTIONS TO THOSE THAT REALLY NEED ANSWERING Q: I have a 4-year-old son who starts asking questions when he gets up in the...
Read MoreYoungsters Don't Need To Use Computers
Posted on 7/3/2007
YOUNGSTERS DON'T NEED TO USE COMPUTERS Q: The first time our children visited the grandparents this summer, Grandpa began asking the oldest if he was going to computer camp this summer, if he...
Read MoreTicket Method for Discipline
Posted on 5/1/2007
WANT A WAY TO TRAIN CHILDREN TO BEHAVE? HERE'S THE TICKET Q: John, several other parents have told me about your "ticket" method for dealing with misbehavior, but I wonder if I can get it...
Read MoreAggressvie Children
Posted on 4/24/2007
STOP AGGRESSION WITH SIR METHOD Last week I promised to provide a tried-and-true solution to a problem that is increasing in both frequency and magnitude: children who are aggressive toward...
Read More3-Year-Old Tantrums
Posted on 4/10/2007
EARLY LESSON IN GOOD BEHAVIOR TAMPS DOWN A TEMPER TANTRUM I had a conflict with one of my grandchildren the other day during which I was insensitive to his feelings, used my size advantage to...
Read MoreUnstructured Play for Preschoolers is Beneficial
Posted on 3/27/2007
MICROMANAGING YOUR KIDS ROBS THEM OF MANY BENEFITS UNSTRUCTURED PLAY LEADS TO SOCIAL SKILLS Several months back, I answered a question from a parent who was bemoaning that in her community,...
Read More5-Year-Old Twins Playing Instead of Sleeping
Posted on 2/6/2007
TWINS PLAY WHEN THEY SHOULD BE SLEEPING - IS THIS A PROBLEM? Q: After I put my 5-year-old twins to bed at 7:30, they get up and play in their room, sometimes for a couple of hours. How can I...
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