Archives for January 2007

Start an anti-interruption campaign: Teach your children to wait for a pause in the conversation before interjecting with, "Excuse me." If they forget, gently reminder them of the rules: "Chelsea, I understand that you're anxious to tell me something, but remember how we talked about saying, 'Excuse me' before cutting in?" When they do remember to do this, don't be shy about … [Read more...] about What you can do about kids who interrupt

Address your children’s anxieties: it's essential that you deal with the underlying causes of the behavior and think about whether there's stress in your child's life that you need to address. If you have an idea about what might be making your children anxious — a recent move, a divorce in the family, a new school, or an upcoming piano recital complete with the grandparents … [Read more...] about What you can do about nail biting

Fathers can try these tactics: Address your kids’ allergies: They are at the age now when they’ve gotten past the constant colds of preschool, so a stuffy nose is probably the result of allergies. The most common allergens affecting children are dust mites, animal dander, pollen, and molds. Keep them hydrated: If you live in a dry climate or if heating or air-conditioning … [Read more...] about What is a father to do about nosepicking?

Encourage kids to work out conflicts on their own: When elementary-age children argue, the best approach is usually not to get involved. Instead, see if you can get them to work it out themselves. Try not to foster competition: As tempting as it may be to get your C+ grade-schooler to model herself on her honor-roll sibling, don't try. Comparisons send a competitive message … [Read more...] about How fathers can handle sibling rivalry

Keep your cool: If you lose your temper, you're playing right your kids’ hands. Instead, calmly and matter-of-factly remind them that certain words are off-limits. Be specific: "Don't ever use language like that!" doesn't work as well as something more precise, such as "We don't use that word in this house," or "That's an offensive word; please don't use it where others have … [Read more...] about What to do about swearing