Questions

Bump in the Road

Posted 6 days ago

My son is 4 years old and lately has been having trouble sleeping. He gets up several times a night and wants me to sleep with him. I have been divorced for 1 year and have joint custody with my...

Ages: Preschool (4-5 years)

Topics: ADHD and other disorders, Bedtime/Sleep, Divorce/Custody, John's Discipline Methods, Mothers, Parent Leadership and Authority, Single Parents

Expat needs help choosing school

Posted 1 week ago

My wife and I are expats living abroad and we are starting on the journey of selecting a school for our eldest (5yr old daughter). Being abroad seems to limit the opportunities available for...

Ages: Preschool (4-5 years)

Topics: Character/Values (teaching), Homeschooling, School Issues

How Much Allowance Should I Give My Kids?

Posted 1 week ago

I have a few questions: In Teenproofing there is talk about allowance not connected to chores. I love the idea of teaching the kids about money responsibility, budgeting, etc., as discussed. Our...

Ages: School Age (6-10 years), Pre-Teen (11-12 years), Young Teen/Junior High (13-15 years)

Topics: Allowances, Character/Values (teaching), Chores/Responsibilities, Parent Leadership and Authority

Does a 12yo really need a cellphone?

Posted 1 week ago

Our 12 year old entered junior high this year and is one of only about 3 kids in his grade that I know does NOT have a cell phone. We do not think he needs one and he has finally got off our back...

Ages: Pre-Teen (11-12 years)

Topics: Electronics (Computers/Video Games/Television/Cell Phones)

Young Teenage Boy Has Problem To Solve

Posted 1 week ago

Finally: school and studies. Being in junior high now we are trying to encourage better study habits for our son. He has always found school easy and not brought work home to review while still...

Ages: Young Teen/Junior High (13-15 years)

Topics: Chores/Responsibilities, Consequences/Punishment, Homework, Parent Leadership and Authority, School Issues

Shorten bedtime routine

Posted 1 week ago

Hello, I have two daughters - an almost 3 year old and a 6 year old. i am married to an airline pilot who needs to regularly be out of town for 4-5 days a week. We make it through the days pretty...

Ages: Toddler (18MOS-3 years), Pre-Preschool (3 Year Old), School Age (6-10 years)

Topics: Bedtime/Sleep

Posted 1 week ago

By the way, I also wanted to say thank you for the advice around toilet training. I read Dr. Rosemond's book before embarking on potty training with my younger daughter at 18 months. It was...

Forming a United Parenting Front

Posted 1 week ago

Hello...fully realizing Mr Rosemond is NOT a marriage counselor I do have a question. I am 70 years old and my spouse is 49. We have a daughter, 10 years old, that is very bright (public school...

Ages: No Specific Age, School Age (6-10 years), Pre-Teen (11-12 years)

Topics: Character/Values (teaching), Homeschooling, Homework, John's Discipline Methods, Marriage Issues, Mothers, Parent Leadership and Authority, School Issues

Put Parenting Anxiety to Rest

Posted 1 week ago

I have been following John Rosemond podcasts for a while now and everything he says tends to make sense and sit well with me. However, I am lacking so much common sense in parenting having come...

Ages: No Specific Age

Topics: Anxieties, Fears, John's Discipline Methods, Parent Leadership and Authority

Mom on track with chores, allowance

Posted 1 week ago

I keep being advised I should use reward charts/money allowances for good behavior and chores around the house (for almost 7 year old). But, something doesn't sit right with me about this. I cant...

Ages: School Age (6-10 years)

Topics: Allowances, Chores/Responsibilities

Mommy Guilt Not Helping Anyone

Posted 1 week ago

I have a 5 month old daughter who likes to be held and cuddled all day long. I love the cuddles and I am trying to make the most of this stage as I know how quickly it goes, and I deeply regret...

Ages: Birth to 18MOS, Preschool (4-5 years)

Topics: Anxieties, Fears, Mothers

It Takes a Man to Teach a Boy to be a Man

Posted 1 week ago

I read John's June articles on fathering and see the pattern he sees all the time: grown-up sons who amount to nothing. I have 3 boys ages 9, 7, and 4 and want much better for them. There are...

Ages: Preschool (4-5 years), School Age (6-10 years)

Topics: Character/Values (teaching), Father, Manners, Single Parents

Kerfuffling Kids

Posted 1 week ago

Hi! I have a 9 year old daughter and boy/girl twin 7 year olds. The twins tend to play really nicely together. They are also in the same class and the same group on the swim team. My 9 year old...

Ages: School Age (6-10 years)

Topics: Consequences/Punishment, Sibling Conflict

Argumentative 10-Year-Old Needs a Reality Check

Posted 1 week ago

Argumentative 10 year old- May daughter is pushing back on everything. When told to do something (anything) she grumbles, sighs, complains, etc. My husband and I have been working on "yes mom,...

Ages: School Age (6-10 years)

Topics: Arguments with Children, Consequences/Punishment, Disobedience/Defiance, Parent Leadership and Authority

Quiet time--the gift from heaven

Posted 1 week ago

Could you give me some guidelines for how to teach my daughter to do quiet time? She’s two and a half so I realize her attention span isn’t very long and she still does take naps. I want to at...

Ages: Toddler (18MOS-3 years)

Topics: Character/Values (teaching)

Ignoring Bad Habits

Posted 2 weeks ago

My 9-year-old daughter still puts things in her mouth and chews on them like a toddler: Lego pieces, wrappers, etc. It seems like she has an oral fixation and always needs to be chewing or sucking...

Ages: No Specific Age, School Age (6-10 years)

Topics: Character/Values (teaching), Consequences/Punishment, Manners, Miscellaneous Discipline Problems, Mothers, Pacifiers/Security Blankets/Thumbsucking, Parent Leadership and Authority, Social Issues (fighting/arguing with friends), Socialization/Social Skills

Mom needs to wake up

Posted 2 weeks ago

I’ve read the question “Resetting the dial” - while we don’t have a big family, we do want to start having some family rules e.g. Come when you are called, do not disturb the family peace, getting...

Ages: School Age (6-10 years)

Topics: Chores/Responsibilities, John's Discipline Methods, Miscellaneous Discipline Problems, Parent Leadership and Authority

Rebellious 25 monts old

Posted 2 weeks ago

Hi My 25 month old daughter is potty trained now. I started when she was 23 month old, and 3 weeks ago until she got completely trained even at night. since yesterday she has been having pee...

Ages: Toddler (18MOS-3 years)

Topics: Consequences/Punishment, Discipline Methods (e.g. time-out), Disobedience/Defiance, Parent Leadership and Authority

Reservations about Resetting the Dial

Posted 2 weeks ago

This question is for Sharon Lamberth: Thank you very much for your thoughtful reply regarding my family's discipline situation. I agree that my husband and I need to do the things you suggested,...

Topics: Disobedience/Defiance, John's Discipline Methods, Parent Leadership and Authority

Divorce challenges parenting.

Posted 2 weeks ago

My daughter left home on September 3rd, after I removed her door and we had an argument. She told me I was a terrible mother and a psychopath. She said she was leaving and I asked for her keys,...

Ages: Older Teen/High School (16-18 years)

Topics: Divorce/Custody

Maintaining Your Own Identity

Posted 2 weeks ago

Hi, My family (my husband and I) have the opportunity for me to leave the workforce for a few years to stay home with our 5 year old and 1 year old twins. While I am thrilled to have this...

Ages: Toddler (18MOS-3 years), Preschool (4-5 years)

Topics: Mothers

Bedwetting

Posted 2 weeks ago

Trying to teach our 4 year old to use the potty at night. We started out with having him go to bed with only a shirt on. After many mornings of waking up soaked we decided to buy the potty alarm....

Ages: Preschool (4-5 years)

Topics: Bedwetting, Toilet Training

Managing Misbehavior on Vacation

Posted 3 weeks ago

After a long string of troubling incidents involving our 7yr old (soon to be 8) son, we decided to try John's "kicking out of the garden" strategy. We are going on vacation (gone 9 days) next...

Ages: School Age (6-10 years)

Topics: Adoption/Foster Parent, Character/Values (teaching), Consequences/Punishment, Discipline Methods (e.g. time-out), Disobedience/Defiance, John's Discipline Methods, Lying, Manners, Miscellaneous Discipline Problems, Parent Leadership and Authority, Rebellious Behavior, Social Issues (fighting/arguing with friends)

Too Much To-Do From a Toddler

Posted 3 weeks ago

My daughter is 21 months. She constantly wants me to hold her when we are home. I cannot keep it up. If I don’t hold her when she wants, she cries and cries. Help! What should I do? Also, she’s...

Ages: Toddler (18MOS-3 years)

Topics: Mothers, Tantrums

Toddler Tests the Limits

Posted 3 weeks ago

My son is 11 months old today. When I tell him not to touch something, he will almost immediately touch the item. When he does, i remove the item from his hand and tell him that he is not allowed...

Ages: Birth to 18MOS

Topics: Disobedience/Defiance, Parent Leadership and Authority, Tantrums

Pacifier Problems?

Posted 3 weeks ago

We've decided to take our 2 and half year old's pacifier away from her cold turkey, and she seems to be doing generally okay with the transition. The hardest part seems to be at nap and bedtime as...

Ages: Toddler (18MOS-3 years)

Topics: Bedtime/Sleep

Grounded means...

Posted 3 weeks ago

My son is 13. He has been lying fairly often. He got a detention at school but told me he was getting help from the teacher with his work he didn’t understand. Of course I found out when the...

Ages: Young Teen/Junior High (13-15 years)

Topics: Consequences/Punishment

Being in charge means...

Posted 1 month ago

How do you recommend dealing with whining and bad attitudes? We we using the ticket system with our 5 year old and it is helping with bigger bad behaviors. We are working to use Alpha speech and...

Ages: Pre-Preschool (3 Year Old), Preschool (4-5 years)

Topics: Disobedience/Defiance

Forcing a Preschooler to Nap

Posted on 11/8/2019

I am fortunate enough to work at a place that offers an onsite daycare. My 3 year old son goes to that daycare and has since he was 1. They are montessori and he has changes rooms as he has...

Ages: Pre-Preschool (3 Year Old)

Topics: Bedtime/Sleep

Expect her to obey

Posted on 11/8/2019

My two and a half year old does well with listening when I use alpha speech and she is looking at me. I usually tell her, "Look at mommy" before I tell her what to do because I have found that if...

Ages: Toddler (18MOS-3 years)

Topics: Character/Values (teaching), Mothers, Parent Leadership and Authority

Nip Physical Aggression in the Bud

Posted on 11/8/2019

We have been doing the ticket system with our four-year-old for the last four days. He has one targeting behavior, “refusing to listen,” and five tickets. Every day since we started, he has lost...

Ages: Preschool (4-5 years)

Topics: Aggression, Consequences/Punishment, Miscellaneous Discipline Problems, Parent Leadership and Authority, School Issues

Challenges of Ticket System for Mother of Four

Posted on 11/7/2019

Our oldest 4 children, ages 10, 8, 6, and 5, are all on the tickets system. They each start the day with 5 tickets. The first three tickets lost are "free", the 4th ticket costs them the...

Ages: Pre-Preschool (3 Year Old), Preschool (4-5 years), School Age (6-10 years)

Topics: Parent Leadership and Authority

The Struggle is Real

Posted on 11/6/2019

We have struggled with our child being ashamed to be seen with either of us (her parents) in public, to the point that she acts in a way that hurts us. She is now in middle school (7th grade);...

Ages: Young Teen/Junior High (13-15 years)

Topics: Character/Values (teaching), Consequences/Punishment, Discipline Methods (e.g. time-out), Father, John's Discipline Methods, Manners, Mothers, Parent Leadership and Authority, Teenage Issues

When Normal Becomes a Disorder

Posted on 11/6/2019

My son is six years old, and he started kindergarten this year. Somewhere around week three or four, I got a call from his teacher stating that he has "impulsivity issues". I did a quick google...

Ages: School Age (6-10 years)

Topics: ADHD and other disorders, Chores/Responsibilities, Consequences/Punishment, Discipline Methods (e.g. time-out), Disobedience/Defiance, John's Discipline Methods, Parent Leadership and Authority, Rewards, School Issues

Focus More on the Behavior than the Diagnosis

Posted on 11/6/2019

I have a 10 year old son who was once diagnosed as autistic. A few years later we had him tested again in which the doctor couldn't understand why he was labeled that way and said he was not...

Ages: School Age (6-10 years), Pre-Teen (11-12 years)

Topics: ADHD and other disorders, Character/Values (teaching), Consequences/Punishment, John's Discipline Methods, Manners, School Issues, Self-Esteem, Social Issues (fighting/arguing with friends), Socialization/Social Skills

Navigating the Bedtime War Zone

Posted on 11/6/2019

When my daughter was 13 months old I decided to go back to work so we slept trained her. It took about 2-3 nights and she was sleeping through the night. A year later she started waking up...

Ages: Pre-Preschool (3 Year Old)

Topics: Bedtime/Sleep

Seeking Friends

Posted on 11/5/2019

Hello! We have a wonderful 5 year old boy who started kindergarten this past August. He is wonderfully sweet, but a bit naive. As his mother, a lot of my interests which can definitely be...

Ages: Preschool (4-5 years), School Age (6-10 years)

Topics: Bullies/Bullying, Socialization/Social Skills

17 YO Boy's Odd Behavior

Posted on 11/5/2019

17 year old grandson has hidden lady’s purses under bed or in a drawer. They are empty and he gets them from family homes(ones no one uses). Happened about 4 times with fairly long lengths of...

Ages: Older Teen/High School (16-18 years)

Topics: Divorce/Custody, Father, Miscellaneous Discipline Problems

Reforming a Licker

Posted on 11/5/2019

Our 7 year old boy has been licking things (like most of us would smell). We went to the fair last night and I watched him lick the handle bar of one of the rides. Today, I went outside to check...

Ages: School Age (6-10 years)

Topics: Miscellaneous Discipline Problems

Mom looking for Plan B to make Toddlerhood easier

Posted on 11/3/2019

I have a perhaps unusual question. We are about to embark on toddlerhood and toilet training, and want to be prepared in case things don't go smoothly. I think we will need an alternative to...

Ages: Toddler (18MOS-3 years)

Topics: Mothers, Tantrums, Toilet Training

Prevarications, Pranks and Privileges

Posted on 11/1/2019

My 5 year old child seems to be developing a habit for lying. Last night, he stayed with a friend and her two kids while I attended a meeting. On our way home, he told me this..."Zachary did...

Ages: Preschool (4-5 years)

Topics: Consequences/Punishment, Lying

4-Year-Old Running the Show

Posted on 10/31/2019

What if our 4 year old refuses to stay in his room after he loses his 5 tickets?

Ages: Preschool (4-5 years)

Topics: Discipline Methods (e.g. time-out), Disobedience/Defiance, Parent Leadership and Authority

A Tale of the Terrible Twos

Posted on 10/27/2019

What is the appropriate response when a toddler misbehaves while you're in the middle of an activity you cannot just walk away from to redirect or deter them immediately? Here are a few...

Ages: Toddler (18MOS-3 years)

Topics: Character/Values (teaching), Disobedience/Defiance, Parent Leadership and Authority

Avoid Power Struggles with Potty Training

Posted on 10/26/2019

Potty training woes with a 2 1/2 year old. We started potty training our son about 9 months ago. We started out by getting rid of diapers completely, but after about 5 months we couldn't take...

Ages: Toddler (18MOS-3 years)

Topics: Toilet Training

Play Group for Two-Year-Old Not Working Well

Posted on 10/25/2019

It’s seems like my two and a half year old has a harder time with obedience on days when she’s spending significant time interacting with other toddlers. I notice if other children. Misbehave, she...

Ages: Toddler (18MOS-3 years)

Topics: Social Issues (fighting/arguing with friends), Socialization/Social Skills

Harsh Consequences?

Posted on 10/24/2019

I have been using the ticket system with my 5-year-old for about a week now. When he loses his tickets he’s sent to his room for the remainder of the day. However, my son seems to be dealing with...

Ages: Preschool (4-5 years)

Topics: Anxieties, Fears, Character/Values (teaching), Consequences/Punishment, Discipline Methods (e.g. time-out), Father, Mothers, Parent Leadership and Authority

Train Him Up

Posted on 10/24/2019

How do you deal with a 4 year old that when he is told “no” or asked to do something he does not want to do, ends up doing that specific thing or has a tantrum to some degree or another. How do...

Ages: Preschool (4-5 years)

Topics: Character/Values (teaching), Consequences/Punishment, Discipline Methods (e.g. time-out), Disobedience/Defiance, John's Discipline Methods, Parent Leadership and Authority

The Taming of the Crew

Posted on 10/23/2019

I need help understanding the difference between sibling rivalry and sibling abuse. I know I'm supposed to punish both children equally when they fight, but what about in a situation where the...

Ages: School Age (6-10 years)

Topics: Consequences/Punishment, Sibling Conflict

Potty Training Marathon- Don't give up!

Posted on 10/23/2019

Hi again, Some weeks ago I asked for advice re: potty training my 22 month old son (he was 20 months then). We've been at it for almost 2 months now. This is by far the longest I have ever had...

Ages: Toddler (18MOS-3 years)

Topics: Bedwetting, Toilet Training