Questions

Breaking Bad (habits, that is)

Posted on 4/4/2025

Our 4 yr daughter has a bad habit of picking her nose and biting her nails. We have told her that this is gross and puts germs in her mouth but she still does it. How do you suggest teaching her...

Less Help May Be Better For 11YO

Posted on 4/3/2025

How can I help my 11 yo daughter take responsibility for her mistakes and care more about doing right than fear getting caught? Often, her apologies are insincere and she walks away as if she was...

Too much Talk can make things worse!!!!

Posted on 3/31/2025

My four year-old son has constant negative talk after we provide positive feedback or reprimand him. Scenario 1: Mom & Dad: You road your bike so well! You’ve been working hard and...

Additional Support Needed for 14YO

Posted on 3/27/2025

My 14-year-old daughter got caught using her cell phone in school. The phone was taken, and we have handed out consequences (no phone and extra chores). But later learned she didn't not apologize...

Nip 14 YO's Unacceptable Behavior in the Bud

Posted on 3/25/2025

Caught 14 yr old son sneaking handheld video games in the middle of the night after bedtime. Upon investigation, found out he has also viewed porn on his school laptop 3x (during daytime hours)....

To Retain or Not?

Posted on 3/25/2025

Our Kindergarten daughter (almost 6) has been recommended for retention. Husband and I asked why. Developmentally she’s not ready to move forward. When we probed her teacher, her answer was: she...

The Predictable Pooper

Posted on 3/18/2025

I'm looking for some guidance for my daughter who just turned three. For several months now we have been potty training her. We told her that the doctor said she no longer needs Pull-Ups. This is...

Family pet safety

Posted on 3/18/2025

We have 2 dogs who are pretty friendly. Over the last couple months, our 4 and a half year old daughter has taken an intense interest in the dogs, to the point of following them around constantly...

A Structured Approach to Correcting Disrespectful Behavior in Children

Posted on 3/17/2025

My six-year-old son has been struggling with his attitude and respect towards authority. We realized that our leadership "talk" wasn't effective, so we've since made adjustments. In addition,...

Parenting the parents

Posted on 3/17/2025

Hi, we recently moved up to La Crosse WI where a son, daughter in law and grandson (only child who is 6 now) live. We are seeing them more since close and grateful for that. I appreciate your...

Consider Changing Strategy with Young Children

Posted on 3/17/2025

I have a 3 and 5 year old. Recently they’ve taken up stalling and doing a half job when I give instructions. When getting ready for school, putting toys away, to doing evening house chores. I...

6YO Needs Attitude Adjustment

Posted on 3/11/2025

Hello, my six year old son is struggling with his attitude and respect towards authority. We realized our leadership talk was poor, and have since adjusted. Additionally, we have "lowered the...

Talking to an 11 year old not working

Posted on 3/3/2025

I am having issues with my 11 yo son. He recently got his phone taken away for looking up inappropriate things. He also isn't able to play video games on the weekend unless his teacher signs a...

A Booklover's Guide to Agony

Posted on 3/1/2025

just received a call from our Head of School, informing me that our 8-year-old son threatened another child at school. This behavior is completely out of character for him. When we asked him about...

A Booklover's Guide to Agony

Posted on 2/21/2025

I just received a call from our Head of School stating our 8 year old son threatened another child at school. This is completely out of character for him and when asked about he said"he let his...

You are welcome...

Posted on 2/20/2025

Thank you for your quick response! I have been trying to back away from all of this but was feeling guilty because his dad has never been much of a disciplinarian. He admits he just wanted to be...

Step-mom blues

Posted on 2/19/2025

I have a 14 yr old stepson that lies, sneaks (had electronics taken away but snuck his school tablet into his room to look at inappropriate things), and has "run away" to his grandparents to get...

Aggressive 2yo

Posted on 2/17/2025

Dear John, My almost two year old daughter (20 months) has been showing aggression in her daycare class for the last couple of months and it’s escalating. It started with biting one child and...

Guidance on Son's Challenges

Posted on 2/16/2025

Our 4th child is 9 years old (we have 6 total), and was recently evaluated as having a few diagnosis issues via psychology office. One of them being "oppositional defiant disorder." We have been...

Little Miss Dependent

Posted on 2/9/2025

Our newly six-year-old daughter, an only child, constantly seeks our attention and prefers not to be alone when we’re home. She wants us to stay with her longer at bedtime, engage in...

4 YO Not Fazed By Consequences

Posted on 2/7/2025

I’m struggling to find compelling consequences for my 4 year old. We’ve tried taking away privileges like TV shows and toys, but she quickly moves on. We’ve tried time out, but the effects are...

Little Miss Dependent

Posted on 2/4/2025

Our just-turned-six-year-old daughter, an only child, wants our constant attention and does not want to be alone when we are at home. She wants us to stay with her longer when we put her to...

Helping Daughter Overcome Shyness and Build Confidence

Posted on 2/4/2025

Dear John my name is Tatiana Silva, and I reside in Nassau, Bahamas. We've had a conversation over the phone previously, and I continue to value and follow your work closely. I'm reaching out for...

When asking doesn't work

Posted on 2/1/2025

Most evenings when we ask my daughters to clean up (6.5 and 4.5 years old) the 4 year old does one or all of the following; whine, says she can't do it, says it's too much, gets distracted, slowly...

Keep It Simple

Posted on 1/28/2025

We reached out in October regarding our 4-year-old son's hitting peers and defiance towards teachers at school. Mr. Rosemond recommended, and we are implementing the "on-call" parent, picking him...

Parenting is not deterministic.

Posted on 1/28/2025

My 17 year old son is a senior in high school. I've been concerned that he only hangs out with girls. I'm concerned about his sexuality. I went through his texts without his knowledge and...

Addressing Disruptive Behavior in an 8-Year-Old

Posted on 1/26/2025

My 8-year-old son has been disruptive before and during school. He seems to think his behavior is funny. Yesterday, he tried to stuff someone else's lunch into a different lunchbox (not even his...

Teachable moments

Posted on 1/25/2025

Wonderful advice. Thank you so much! Your books are amazing; we love them. I just purchased and listened to The 7 Biggest Mistakes Parents Make. Our problem is that we were more "buddy buddy"...

Managing high conflict parenting.

Posted on 1/23/2025

Per parenting plan 9y/o son & 12y/o daughter may contact dad at will. Recently, ex demanded I make sure the kids call every day, then started ordering them to call at certain times. He will...

Change your parenting direction

Posted on 1/23/2025

My son who is 8 is being disruptive before/during schooltime. He thinks it is funny. He tried to stuff someone's lunch into someone else's lunchbox (not even his own) yesterday. He takes things...

Embracing 'Season 1' of Your Child's Life

Posted on 12/30/2024

My 6-month-old baby boy constantly wants to be picked up and held. Whenever I try to set him down, he fusses until I hold him again. How can I help redirect his attention and encourage him to...

Getting creative with your space

Posted on 12/29/2024

My four-year-old daughter shares a bedroom with her seventeen-year-old sister. Can you recommend an alternative consequence for tickets that would be as effective as sending her to her room for...

Mom Frustrated With 6YO Not Following Directives

Posted on 12/26/2024

Hello, I'm having issues with my 6 year old following directions and doing things the first time she's asked. I have made her a check list to help her organize her tasks which has helped. If I...

How to hold 5 yro's accountable

Posted on 12/14/2024

I am a single mom of twin boys that are 5. Their father and I have been in court most of the last year in a custody battle. My boys are typically well behaved thanks to reading your books...

Give Them an Inch...

Posted on 12/8/2024

We are in the process of resetting a slew of bad behaviors (sibling conflict, avoiding responsibility are currently the focus). I'm seeing an increase in defiance/disobedience, both directly and...

The Cost of Being the Boss

Posted on 12/8/2024

We have tried to make sure that our children know that my husband and I are the bosses in this home. We work on them waiting their turn to talk, saying yes sir and yes ma’am, please and thank you,...

Disciplining Autistic 7YO

Posted on 12/8/2024

I have a 7 year old girl. She is autistic and is a slow learner but isn't incapable. She has been slow in learning how to talk but has known and understood the word no for a long time. I'm having...

Tattling vs important information- 4 yro

Posted on 12/3/2024

At what point should we discipline for tattle telling? Our 4 year old loves to tell us when our 1-year old is doing something "wrong." My problem is that sometimes the information she gives me is...

Managing Daytime Wetting in Children

Posted on 11/30/2024

My 7-year-old daughter has recently started having daytime accidents where her pants are slightly wet—not full accidents, just a little damp. This only happens during the day; she doesn’t wet the...

Create opportunities for personal responsibility.

Posted on 11/29/2024

Hello, my daughter is 8 years old and was diagnosed with being on the autistic spectrum this summer. She’s very mean to her younger sister, 6. She gets angry at the slightest thing. Almost always...

POTTY TRAINING WITH 22 MONTH OLD

Posted on 11/22/2024

Please help us with potty training! We used "Naked and $75" with our oldest child and it worked great. Our next child, however (22 months) is really struggling. We've been doing it for 6 weeks...

From 2 year old bully to well behaved boy

Posted on 11/19/2024

Our 2 yr son has been struggling with lots of hitting, pulling hair, pushing, poking, grabbing (until his sister is screaming), biting, etc. towards anyone who displeases him. His 3 yr sister gets...

Should I be concerned about what my children think of ME!!!!!!

Posted on 11/16/2024

What should the response be when my 6 year old daughter says "you dont love me," or "I don't think you love me" when something is taken away from her or she's punished?

4 BOYS ARE BOYS; THEREFORE, THEY ARE MESSY

Posted on 11/13/2024

I’m happy to report that the villain/victim drama has been resolved, with incidents only once a week. I hear whispers of “Please, let’s work this out so we don’t have to go sit for an hour.” I’m...

8 YEAR OLD SLOB

Posted on 11/8/2024

My 9 year old daughter is a slob. She leaves cabinets open, clothes all over the floor, toys everywhere, items from the fridge on the counter, etc. She is otherwise a pleasant and obedient,...

Time for a visit from a coach

Posted on 11/5/2024

I am a single mom of 4. My childrens ears have officially stopped working and it's as if I'm not giving any instructions at all. The youngest (1.5) is now picking up on some bad behaviors. How do...

Change of focus is required

Posted on 11/3/2024

Our 4.5 year old (only child) daughter is incredibly intelligent, chatty, bright and social. We enrolled her in the local play school for socialization, and she goes to a local day home one day a...

TOILET TRAINING SNAFUS NO BIG DEAL

Posted on 10/28/2024

We started training my now 21 month old son at 19 months. We had him trained during naps and he's been dry overnight several times as well. However, for about the past two weeks he's been waking...

Misbehavior at School Prompted Note From Principal

Posted on 10/28/2024

I received the following from our the principal today regarding his behavior at school and need help. I'm sorry to send this on a Monday but I was quite taken by Lee's behavior this morning. We...

SIBLINGS IN SAME BEDROOM

Posted on 10/26/2024

Within the past few months, we transitioned our 4.5 year old daughter and our currently 23-month old son to a set of bunk beds (has stairs, not a ladder) in preparation for our new baby being...

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