Questions

2-year-old whining for a playmate

Posted on 10/14/2016

I have a wonderful just turned two year old son. He loves to play, but he doesn't love to play by himself. I also have a 5 month old, and work part time from home, so it's important that he learn...

Homeschool to Public School for Lonely Preteen

Posted on 10/13/2016

I have been homeschooling my daughter since she was 6. She is now 12. My health is failing me and I haven't been able to drive her out to co-op or sports weekly, but only occasionally. She is a...

Preschool Provoker

Posted on 10/3/2016

I have an almost 3 year old boy who is in a 2 day a week preschool. He has been bitten at school twice in the last 2 weeks by the same student. My son is very stubborn and strong willed. Each...

Sleepovers for a 6-year-old?

Posted on 10/2/2016

My husband and I are both from families where there was some sexual abuse. Neither of us were the victims, but we have seen up close how devastating this is. We now have 4 children..the oldest is...

Ten year old with multiple issues

Posted on 10/1/2016

Adopted Female child age 10; neglect and multiple traumas, sexual abuse. She is in complete safety for 4+ years now, yet she is Hypersensitive, intense, social issues, cannot get along with...

Rewards or consequences?

Posted on 9/5/2016

Hi Ms. Fawcett, Thank you so much for your prompt reply to my question about my shy daughter. I actually could use a little clarification, since you asked. If we are out and about running...

Slow to Warm Up 6 y/o

Posted on 9/4/2016

My 6 year old daughter tends to warm up very slowly in new social situations, even old, familiar social situations. That's ok except that when it comes time for her to speak, she will only whisper...

Hold Back 6th Grader?

Posted on 8/28/2016

I'm a school counselor and I was wondering what your thoughts are on holding a child back and keeping him in the same grade for another year? I'm working with a boy in the 6th grade and he is...

3-year-old stammering while speaking

Posted on 8/26/2016

My three year old son sometimes stutters the first few words of a sentence. He used to get stuck on the first word and repeat it a few times or stretch that word out in kind of a sing song type...

Great Little Traveler

Posted on 6/11/2016

Hi, I'm currently traveling with my 3 year old. We traveled over a 6 hours time difference by plane, drove for two days, changed 3 houses without her father, who she's very attached to. She's...

Neighborhood Interactions

Posted on 5/3/2016

Our boys 8,7 and 5 play outside both in our yard and in neighbors yards (who have kids they play with) They love being outside and I LOVE not having to sit out there and monitor their play. My...

Disrespect in front of friends...

Posted on 4/25/2016

My 10 year old daughter is disrespectful to me whenever she has friends over. Unless I remind her to treat me properly before her friends come over, she almost always finds a way to be...

5 Year Old In Own World

Posted on 4/19/2016

Hi there, Thank you for your answer about my almost 5 year old daughter's overreaction to cuts and bruises. She is now much better with empathy and a firm but reassuring tone of voice that...

Sleepovers?

Posted on 3/10/2016

My husband and I have decided that we do not want to allow our children to participate in sleep overs. We have moved to a new city and are just making new friends and meeting new families (it's a...

Preschool Sassiness: Misbehavior or Phase?

Posted on 3/8/2016

My four year old girl can be quite contrary and I think I am handling it poorly. For example, this morning I told her to stop talking and eat her cereal. She said, “It’s not cereal, its...

12 Year Old Girl Involved with Predator

Posted on 3/7/2016

Hi, my 12 YO Daughter got on the internet and befriended a sexual predator one evening. He sent her nasty, very explicit instant messages as well as some pics. She responded with some very nasty...

6 year old girls can't get along

Posted on 1/20/2016

Hello Again! I had another question and didn't want to muddy the waters with my previous one. Simply put, my daughter is friends with another girl (6 yrs) in her class and we are family friends...

8 yo being disrespectful to mom

Posted on 1/14/2016

Hello, My eight year old daughter is 90% of the time a well behaved child who is pleasant to have around and works hard. The last few months she has started rolling her eyes when I speak...

Mom wants teens to reach out to grandparents

Posted on 1/6/2016

Once in awhile I will ask my teen daughters to write a short note or give a call to their grandparents or aunt. Usually the letters are when they are thanking them for gifts and otherwise, they...

5 and 7 forget their manners away from home

Posted on 12/17/2015

We have mostly well behaved kids, ages 5 and 7, who have a lot of energy. We place a strong emphasis on manners (being polite, saying please/thank you, greeting people, etc). At home they're not...

9 Year Old's Friend a Bad Influence?

Posted on 12/1/2015

My daughter is 9 years old and is homeschooled. She used to go to a private Christian school where she met her best friend. Her friend has always been a model student and every year she has been...

14 yo Social Issues

Posted on 11/23/2015

I have a 14 year old daughter who is having a very difficult time with a friend. The girl is very competitive with a "me first" kind of attitude that seems to be perpetuated by her parents. We...

9 yo Sleepovers

Posted on 11/23/2015

This is a follow up question. I was concerned about my 9 year old daughter's friend who, I believe is being raised with too much television, iPod,video games, etc. and it affects her behavior and...

15 yo Social/School Issues

Posted on 11/18/2015

Our 15 year old son has struggled getting along with others since a toddler. He can be sarcastic, teases, and says hurtful things to family members and friends. He doesn't seem to understand the...

15 Year Old Wrong Friends

Posted on 11/4/2015

What is the best strategy for parents to guide their teenager to choose quality people as friends? My 15 year old has become friends with several older teenagers who are not a good influence for...

8 year old Doesn't Play Nice with Others

Posted on 9/24/2015

I have a middle child (8) that is very creative, likes to play by herself, and very sensitive. She has several cousins w/in close ages (ages 12 - 6). When all of the cousins are together, she...

Share and Share Alike

Posted on 9/18/2015

1st question: What do you recommend in terms of a 1 year old and a 4 year old sharing toys? They can't effectively play together because of their ages. He grabs hers, and she grabs whatever he is...

12 Year Old Not Adjusting Well to Camp

Posted on 7/31/2015

We sent our 12 year old son to sleepaway camp. This is his third year going to the same camp. He's been writing us letters that his summer is horrible and the boys in his bunk are "mean" to him....

3 year old Not Sharing

Posted on 7/9/2015

My son is three and I'm assuming like most-3 year-olds he's obsessed with everything that is his. He grabs everything and everything is "mine mine mine." I tried explaining to him that things are...

Fighting Children's Batttles

Posted on 6/24/2015

I have a friend with a son a few years younger than my 11-year-old boy. I invited them over, along with another friend with a boy my son's age (a good friend of my son's). Two more of son's...

15 yo Social Skills

Posted on 6/8/2015

Our dilemma is regarding our 15 year-old son. He has become withdrawn over that past 2 years and more stoic. He has mastered the skill of suppressing his emotions when it comes to situations...

Social Life of a 2 Year Old

Posted on 6/5/2015

Our 2.5 yo daughter is an only child but extremely mature, talkative and social. She loves other kids and is dying to go to school. We go to story time at the library, but other than that we...

OK to be a follower?

Posted on 6/3/2015

My almost 6 1/2 year old is a very observant and always has been. Instead of jumping right in- it takes her awhile and she like to watch first- which I have grown to love. I have always known she...

When a pet dies

Posted on 5/27/2015

A family dog needs to be euthanized. What do suggest as a healthy way to inform a 6 year old.

The Talk

Posted on 5/20/2015

Our daughter is just turning 9. What is the best age to "have the talk" about sex? I'm thinking she's probably farther along in her understanding than we think. Also any tips on the best...

How Much Playtime?

Posted on 5/19/2015

Hi, I am wondering how much after school playtime - with other kids than their siblings-is appropriate for elementary aged children (aged 9,8 and 6). They are well adjusted and do not have any...

8 yo Sore Loser

Posted on 5/12/2015

Our 8 year old son struggles with any sort of competition. He always wants to win in any situation. We cannot play family games with him as he will throw a fit, mess up all the cards or game...

9 yr old Kissing Bandit

Posted on 4/27/2015

I have a 9 year old daughter that has been kissing a boy. She will ask something of the boy and if he says no she will kiss him to get what she wants. Also she has been kissing a boy on the lips....

Four year old cannot play by himself

Posted on 4/27/2015

Our 4.5 year old son is incapable of playing by himself. He either bothers his brother or lays on the floor and whines for me to play with him. I limit tv to one hour a day and we do not have...

Snappish Teen

Posted on 4/19/2015

What should we do about a snappish teen? What used to be a rare occurrence is now more common than not. We'll ask a normal question and she will bark back an answer like she can't be bothered with...

Teen has no empathy

Posted on 4/12/2015

Our teen is quick to criticize other's reactions instead of just taking care of the matter at hand. Here is a prime example: she accidentally knocks an item off the shelf. I let out a gasp with...

Teen With Too Much Esteem

Posted on 4/6/2015

My 15 year old son does not seem to have or want any bond with people, including his own family. He says that he does not care about anyone except himself, including his own family members. By...

Tween Friendships

Posted on 3/3/2015

My son has/had an extremely obnoxious "best friend" named J. His father buys him at least two of everything and has no parenting skills whatsoever. J has always been very rude, but made a sincere...

Teens and Grandma

Posted on 3/2/2015

If possible, please do not post this question for public display: My 84-year-old mom wants to take my high school junior on a cruise as a graduation gift next year. Our daughter appreciates the...

12 year old Friend Troubles, success

Posted on 2/27/2015

12 yr. old friend troubles follow-up #2 Thanks again, Sarah (and your mother) for the advice. We used it almost word for word. She decided to take a break and was almost grateful for the...

12 year old Friend Troubles, follow up

Posted on 2/26/2015

Re: 12 year old friend problems Thanks, Sarah, for the suggestion. The mean comments haven't ended. At what point do you recommend parents intervening (how?) or kids taking time off from an...

11 Year Old Boy-Girl Outings

Posted on 2/25/2015

Hello, I am seeking the opinion on allowing an 11.5 year old girl to go bowling with another girl and a couple of boys that are in their same grade. Some are advising us that once this begins,...

7 yo and 5 yo Influence of Friends

Posted on 2/11/2015

Our two girls aged 5 and 7 regularly are invited to playdates and in turn they would like to invite their friends over. In theory I love the idea of the children bringing their friends home to...

12 year old Friend Troubles

Posted on 2/6/2015

Our 12 1/2 yr. old daughter has a friend who has recently taken to telling her that something she is doing--a look on her face or an idea is "really gay." Friend always does this in front of...

3 Year Old Imagination Jumpstart

Posted on 1/6/2015

Following good advice from here, we have pulled the plug on TV with our 3-year-old son for a while. It's been a few days, and my heart breaks to see how much his imagination and ability to play...

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