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Cutting the apron strings 3yo

Posted on 11/5/2023

Our daughter is an only child, and I am a stay at home wife. She turned three in June and we are starting to have some difficulties separating her from our interactions as husband and wife during...

Ages: Pre-Preschool (3 Year Old)

Topics: Chores/Responsibilities, Only Children, Play, Respect, Seasons of Parenting, Tantrums, Terrible Twos

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Climbing Toddlers

Posted on 11/1/2023

I have two very busy little people (2.5 and 1.5). They are very curious and love to explore but can also be naughty at times. Christmas time will be coming soon and I love to decorate for it. But...

Ages: Toddler (18MOS-3 years)

Topics: Alpha Speech, Chores/Responsibilities, Discipline Methods (e.g. time-out), Play

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1st Grade Son Prefers Silly Play

Posted on 10/8/2023

My 1st grade son who has always preferred oral "silly" play including making rasberry sounds, whistling, and staccato outbursts of word like but unintelligible syllables, and exaggerated laughter,...

Ages: School Age (6-10 years)

Topics: Consequences/Punishment, Discipline Methods (e.g. time-out), Elementary School, Miscellaneous Discipline Problems, Parent Leadership and Authority, Play, Socialization/Social Skills

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13-Year-Old Pickleball Pouter

Posted on 10/1/2023

Hello Parent Coach - I play pickleball with my 13 year old son every so often on the weekends. I am a better player and he is a beginner, learning at school in PE. After we rally to warm up, we...

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

Topics: Emotions, Parent Leadership and Authority, Play

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How to Purge the Toys

Posted on 8/25/2023

I have 2 boys aged 5 and 3 and a 1-year-old girl. We are trying to reduce the number of toys we have by gifting the toys we don't need anymore. However, I am finding it difficult to decide which...

Ages: Birth to 18MOS, Pre-Preschool (3 Year Old), Preschool (4-5 years)

Topics: Parent Leadership and Authority, Play

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Let's Play! Or Not.

Posted on 10/16/2022

Thank you for your help RE my previous post on homeschooling. I always find this forum so empowering. How do I get my son into sports? He lacks confidence and avoids it. There is a lovely...

Ages: School Age (6-10 years)

Topics: Parent Leadership and Authority, Play, Socialization/Social Skills

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Natural Consequences Are EffectiveTeachers

Posted on 7/9/2022

My 9 year old boy frequently acts like a baby and very odd in a socially unacceptable way like a feral child. When leaving his friends he will say “bye friends” in a silly voice. He also was...

Ages: No Specific Age, Preschool (4-5 years), School Age (6-10 years), Pre-Teen (11-12 years)

Topics: Bullies/Bullying, Character/Values (teaching), Consequences/Punishment, Elementary School, Manners, Miscellaneous Discipline Problems, Mothers, Play, School Issues, Social Issues (fighting/arguing with friends), Socialization/Social Skills

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3-Year-Old in Hyper Mode

Posted on 6/22/2022

My 3.5 year old will get hyper and annoying when he is overtired or overexcited. When he’s in a “hyper mode”, he’s running around, trying to roughhouse, jumping into people, being loud and...

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

Topics: Alpha Speech, Character/Values (teaching), Consequences/Punishment, Discipline Methods (e.g. time-out), John's Discipline Methods, Manners, Miscellaneous Discipline Problems, Miscellaneous Editorial Columns, Mothers, Parent Leadership and Authority, Play, Preschool, Socialization/Social Skills

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Lazy Bones needs to Play

Posted on 6/21/2022

I have a twelve year old son. My concern is that he is incredibly lazy. He has no ambition to do anything. He finishes what we require of him and takes up his spot on the couch. Sometimes he reads...

Ages: Pre-Teen (11-12 years)

Topics: Miscellaneous Discipline Problems, Play, Socialization/Social Skills

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Out of Sorts with Sports--the Angst of a 7-year Old

Posted on 4/14/2022

Our seven year old son wanted to sign up for soccer this season. He played soccer once a few years ago but hasn’t played organized sports in a few years. So far, he has yet to go to a practice or...

Ages: School Age (6-10 years)

Topics: Anxieties, Fears, Play

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Silly Bedtime Brothers

Posted on 1/18/2022

Our older two boys, 5 and 7, go crazy at bedtime. They are silly, which is fine, but in being silly they make messes and are often disrespectful. After going to bed, we can hear them laughing and...

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

Topics: Alpha Speech, Bedtime/Sleep, Character/Values (teaching), Disobedience/Defiance, John's Discipline Methods, Miscellaneous Editorial Columns, Mothers, Parent Leadership and Authority, Play

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Shy 7 Year Old

Posted on 12/31/2021

My 7 year old first-grader has trouble joining into social situations. He plays well with his 5 year old brother, but with peers, he goes off on his own, and will tell stories to himself (I...

Ages: No Specific Age, Preschool (4-5 years), School Age (6-10 years), Pre-Teen (11-12 years)

Topics: Character/Values (teaching), Extracurricular Activities/Hobbies, John's Discipline Methods, Manners, Miscellaneous Editorial Columns, Mothers, Parent Leadership and Authority, Play, Self-Esteem, Shyness, Social Issues (fighting/arguing with friends), Socialization/Social Skills

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Transition 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...

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

Topics: Alpha Speech, Bedtime/Sleep, Character/Values (teaching), Consequences/Punishment, John's Discipline Methods, Miscellaneous Discipline Problems, Miscellaneous Editorial Columns, Mothers, Parent Leadership and Authority, Play, Respect, Socialization/Social Skills, Tantrums, Terrible Twos

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Adopted Daughters Crave Adult Attention

Posted on 10/28/2021

Daughters want too much attention from adults, and are too touchy with them. We have two adopted daughters, ages five and six. Both seem to want an unnatural amount of attention from adults....

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

Topics: Miscellaneous Discipline Problems, Play, Social Issues (fighting/arguing with friends), Socialization/Social Skills

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Play 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...

Ages: School Age (6-10 years)

Topics: Character/Values (teaching), Consequences/Punishment, Parent Leadership and Authority, Play, Respect, Social Issues (fighting/arguing with friends), Socialization/Social Skills

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Things 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...

Ages: Preschool (4-5 years)

Topics: Aggression, Disobedience/Defiance, Play, Respect, Social Issues (fighting/arguing with friends), Socialization/Social Skills, Tantrums

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8 year old boy missing his friends after moving

Posted on 7/16/2021

We’ve recently relocated and all my 8 year old does is complain he misses his old friends from his old school. I understand transitions are difficult and life has changed a lot but my sons quality...

Ages: School Age (6-10 years)

Topics: Parent Leadership and Authority, Play, Socialization/Social Skills

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Tickets, 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...

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

Topics: Alpha Speech, Arguments with Children, Character/Values (teaching), Consequences/Punishment, Discipline Methods (e.g. time-out), Disobedience/Defiance, John's Discipline Methods, Manners, Miscellaneous Discipline Problems, Miscellaneous Editorial Columns, Mothers, Parent Leadership and Authority, Play, Rebellious Behavior, Respect, Sibling Conflict, Social Issues (fighting/arguing with friends), Socialization/Social Skills

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