Questions
Technology, Discipline, and Schoolwork
Posted on 5/1/2023
I want to use the weekly ticket system, or throwing the child out of the garden, to discipline my 12-year-old son (6th grade). The problem lies in that much of the homework now is given via...
Read More12YO's Rude Behavior Needs to Stop
Posted on 3/7/2023
6 yo daughter and a 12 yo daughter. 12 yo is acting rude toward her grandma. Grandma is loving, kind, interested and attends activities. 12 yo is a good kid, good grades, is respectful. We’ve set...
Read More10 yr Old reining in his anger
Posted on 1/21/2023
10 year old with anger issues What is your advice as to how to teach a 10 yr old boy how to control his emotions, instead of letting his emotions control him. Our son can be like Dr. Jekyll/Mr....
Read MoreAnger Mismanagement
Posted on 1/4/2023
My 11.5 year old, quite academic son, is very respectful outside home and loved by his teachers. In past few years he is lacking anger management and becomes disrespectful (especially with mom)...
Read More6 yr old fits
Posted on 1/4/2023
My daughter is 6 years old. When her father and I speak to her about her behaviour she interrupts us by saying "I know, I know, I know". She is constantly talking back! she's hit me before and I...
Read More10-Year-Old Not Getting the Message
Posted on 6/16/2022
My ten-year-old son has recently been misbehaving at school with a friend. First, the teacher informed us that after the class was told not to play hide and seek inside the school building during...
Read MoreDon't Dis R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Posted on 6/13/2022
Our 8 year old has grown increasingly disrespectful. He is perfect respectful to adults like teachers and parents of his friends, so it is primarily an issue at home. Often the disrespect is...
Read More11 YO DISRESPECTS STEPMOTHER
Posted on 6/11/2022
My husband and I need help dealing with my 11 year old stepdaughter's disrespectful attitude towards us. I have been in her life for 6 years and this is an area that has been an issue the entire...
Read MoreNo Response is a Response: Let Them Be Silly
Posted on 4/21/2022
How do we teach our children to stop the constant silly talk/noises? One child is diagnosed with ADHD, autism, etc. I've set up a rule that the first 30 minutes after wakeup and the last 30...
Read MoreParents Need To Be on The Same Page
Posted on 4/14/2022
In order to apply garden kick, should both parents sit down with the child and go over all the consequences for breaking family rules? One issue with my daughter is phone, I had asked her phone...
Read MoreIt's Not About the Makeup: Time for a Garden Kick
Posted on 3/20/2022
15-year old daughter very obsessed with make-up. Used our Amazon account to buy makeup Products without our knowing till I looked up order history. Took away all her makeup products, went...
Read MoreChild Abuse? I Think Not.
Posted on 2/21/2022
My 9 year old homschool son cries and freaks out when we mention he does school at my mother's house an hour away. The children usually stay a week or a few days. Is it child abuse if he doesn't...
Read MoreSmartphones and "Smart-mouthed" Teen
Posted on 2/18/2022
Mr. John: We need your advice. My son just turned 15 and never had video games or a smartphone. He had a flip phone, and watches Tv on weekends. This school year we gave him a Smartphone for him...
Read MoreBedtime Blues
Posted on 2/1/2022
Hello there. Since he was very little, my little one had been going to be bed between 7:30 to 8 pm, preceded by him willingly going to the bathtub when told, playing/being washed in the tub, being...
Read MoreR.E.S.P.E.C.T
Posted on 1/30/2022
We have a 10 year old son and an 8 year old daughter. Our daughter has a genetic disease and is mildly delayed in language and cognitive skills, but she attends school and is in a regular...
Read MoreYou're in Charge Now
Posted on 1/21/2022
Okay so I’m ready to administer a discipline plan for my daughter. My questions are; 1. How much is too much? I’m ready to take a lot of her favorite things away. But, what about life...
Read MoreParent Apologies: Choosing Relationship Over Being Right with Adult Child
Posted on 1/19/2022
This question builds off of a prior one answered by Gretchen Slover. Last summer, my 18-year-old daughter lost about 15-20 pounds. She was at about 130 at her peak and in good shape. My ex-wife...
Read MorePerfect time for a reset
Posted on 1/18/2022
Our 9yo girls currently rule the roost. They speak to us flippantly, complain constantly, whine and pester after receiving a "no" answer, expect others to fetch/carry for them, ignore directives...
Read MoreDisciplining With Tickets When Grandma Comes to Town
Posted on 12/29/2021
I just got your book, "The Well Behaved Child," and today I began using tickets (and Alpha speech) for my just 5-year-old son who is very loving and sweet but would be considered a "high...
Read MoreClarifying the Garden Kick
Posted on 12/4/2021
Does kicking out of the garden mean the child is confined to their new boring room for the duration of the time? Do you restrict them from playing outside with sibblings or friends? Can they...
Read MoreAwakened Mom Wants Respectful 8 year old Son
Posted on 11/24/2021
I have a 7, almost 8 year old son, who has not ever been appropriately disciplined and has developed into a challenging and, dare I say, entitled child. He has little respect for me and when I...
Read MoreNip It. Nip It Good.
Posted on 11/17/2021
Hi ParentGuru, I have a question about our 5yr old son who has come home from prep (1st year of primary school here in Melbourne Australia) after an incident in which he threw another student's...
Read MoreTransition from Nap Time to Quiet Time
Posted on 11/2/2021
Hi, our daughter is 2yrs, 10mo old. What age is appropriate for naps to go away? Our daughter fights naps nearly every day. The problem is that if she doesn’t get a nap is she gets extremely...
Read MoreFive Year Old Slugger
Posted on 11/1/2021
Hello! We have a 5 year old who has been having some big problems hitting his parents and tutor. Although we have been using the ticket system for several months, his yelling and physicality have...
Read MoreWho Are You? (And what have you done with our daughter?)
Posted on 10/26/2021
Since June 2020, my daughter (who is now 14) has become someone I no longer recognize. When school was closed due to COVID-19, I made the terrible choice and let her have her phone 24/7, which has...
Read MorePlay Nice!
Posted on 10/11/2021
Hello. My 6 year old daughter has a very hard time playing nicely with cousins and peers. She wants to have the upper hand at all times. She gets very jealous if somebody has something she...
Read More4 year old terrorist wearing out her family
Posted on 9/23/2021
Our 4 year old daughter has become a complete terrorist. She has always been difficult and challenging but it’s only getting worse by the day. We have always been strict parents and have...
Read MoreTime for A Garden Kick
Posted on 8/27/2021
We have our 12 year old son's phone locked for certain reasons. If his grades slip below a B we lock it so he can only call family, if he is disrespectful or doesn't complete his chores, his...
Read More"Anything for Attention and The Most Annoying Thing Ever"
Posted on 8/11/2021
I have a seven year old boy who is a copycat. There are adults around him who clear their throat, so now he is clearing his throat. It has become a habit and when he gets mad, he exaggerates it...
Read MoreConsistency is the key to success
Posted on 8/10/2021
I have a 6 yo daughter and 3 yo son. Daughter is often "mean" to son verbally. His 3 yr old talkativeness bothers her, and she frequently shouts at him ("be quiet!" etc.) My and wife's approach...
Read MoreThe Doctor can Help!
Posted on 8/7/2021
My son is 6. He recently has been throwing screaming fits and occasionally outright refusing to do things such as get dressed or wash himself in the bath. We feel like we cannot “make” him do...
Read MoreThings You Can't Change
Posted on 7/25/2021
One of the moms in our play date group does not believe in disciplining her children. Her 4 year old son has meltdowns, takes toys from other children, and BITES when he doesn’t get his way. When...
Read MoreA Bad Day at The Zoo or Sensory Processing Disorder?
Posted on 7/3/2021
My 4 year old son has been seeing an occupational therapist to help with his behavioral issues. She suggested that my son has a sensory processing disorder to explain why he will listen to...
Read MoreTickets, Strikes and Keeping the Peace
Posted on 6/22/2021
I’ve attempted using the ticket system, but I’m getting confused. I have a 4 yr old and 7yr old. They fight, and argue about EVERYTHING. I put 3 tickets on the fridge- no tattling, no disturbing...
Read MoreTaming 5 year Old Stubbornness
Posted on 6/21/2021
My 5 year old daughters stubbornness cannot be tamed and I’m not sure what to do. I completely emptied her room 10 days ago. She had 2 blankets and a pillow and that’s it. She had shown great...
Read MoreTeaching Respect
Posted on 6/13/2021
My twin 6-year olds (one boy, one girl) are pretty good kids most of the time. But recently we’ve been struggling. They listen and obey my husband and I, but they don’t listen to other adults....
Read MoreIndulgent Grandparents
Posted on 4/12/2021
My 6 year old son has been spending more time with my parents without me present for special time. When I’m not there he has a level of indulgence that I think is probably common at grandparent’s...
Read MoreWhy Do My Kids Hate Getting Dressed So Much?
Posted on 2/7/2021
Why do my kids hate getting dressed so much?! They are 2 and 5. It inevitably causes a battle, and when we finally depart someone is crying. I can’t get the diaper changed or clothes on, and the 5...
Read MoreIt's All About Leadership and Love
Posted on 1/25/2021
Hello, we are over in the UK, back in full lock down, schools closed. I struggle with consistency, tiredness and forgetfulness. Even worse I feel humiliated and pathetic because I struggle with...
Read MoreShe's (M)Asking for Trouble--the 9-yr old and the 3 D's
Posted on 1/21/2021
My 9 year old daughter called me dumb this morning because we had a disagreement about the way you put on a mask. I was very upset and blew up and lost it on her. She was right about the mask and...
Read MoreGrandson Needs to be Held More Accountable
Posted on 1/15/2021
I just pulled an old John article out of my drawer that I have had for years. It was about how therapy can be detrimental to a child and rarely works. Also talked about kids emotions and feelings...
Read MoreGetting Tough With 8-Year Olds Behaviors
Posted on 1/13/2021
Me again! I feel like I’m asking weekly questions during this season of parenting. I’ve written about my sneaky 8-year old and I just need some clarification. I’ve read The Well-Behaved Child and...
Read MoreRespect isn't Optional
Posted on 12/26/2020
Hello- I am so glad I subscribed to Parent Guru! I love reading all the questions/answers!! So I have a 9 year old son and unfortunately his father and I have divorced. I moved (with my son)...
Read MoreAttention Addict at 3
Posted on 12/21/2020
Our 3.5 year old daughter’s behavior is very out of control when we visit relatives. She thinks it’s her opportunity to get as much attention from the adults as she possibly can (especially...
Read More8-Year-Old Needs a Wake-Up Call
Posted on 12/20/2020
My 8-year old daughter has been really struggling with the same few bad habits for months. For one, she almost never obeys or follows directions the first time she’s told. She’s not disrespectful,...
Read MoreAvoid Micromanaging Tweens Peer Group
Posted on 12/15/2020
What should I do if my daughters only friends are bad influences on her and not people I want her being friends with? One is a lesbian, one has anxiety issues and they both are obsessed with Tik...
Read MoreIt's Her Problem to Solve
Posted on 11/14/2020
My daughter is struggling in school since grade 2. She's in French immersion. She has failed three tests in a row so far because she didn't study for them.. Her teacher says that she seems to...
Read MoreThis Girl Just Wants to Have Fun
Posted on 11/4/2020
My 8 year old daughter is struggling at school. She just wants to have fun and be creative mostly...Anyway she has failed two tests so far and now her teacher is asking me to sit down because she...
Read MoreSassy 2 year old
Posted on 10/25/2020
28 month year-old son uses nasty tone and says “don’t say that to me!“ Or “don’t talk to me like that!“ ‘No!!’. I know this is part of being a toddler but if I engage back and let him know it is...
Read MoreKeep Delicate Conversations As Simple as Possible
Posted on 10/22/2020
Hello! I am wondering how, when the topic comes up, should I address same sex relationships with my kids (mainly my 8 year old son for now; I also have a 4 year old daughter). We are Catholic...
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