Questions about why children act the way they do. See the tag [discipline] about enforcing your rules.
66
votes
13answers
9k views
How can I prevent my 8-year-old from spending time with his bad friend?
Backstory: My 8 yr old son is a bright, gentle, etc, kid who attends public school. My wife and I have no TV, we disallow violent games (simulated killing is not allowed), we don't have video games, ...
21
votes
8answers
25k views
How can we discipline a strong-willed, misbehaving 5 year-old?
My 5 year old son receives and fears punishment but repeatedly exhibits the same unacceptable behaviors. He's always been strong-willed, and is usually the kind to view a statement like "Don't do ...
18
votes
6answers
3k views
How much should I interact with my newborn?
I have a 2 month old baby. My wife and I take care of him collectively. As he is growing, his sleep time is reducing. Sometimes, due to our schedules, we want him to sleep, but the baby is still ...
18
votes
3answers
1k views
How do you handle poor behavior by other people's children?
I believe that interacting with a variety of other children at social functions is an important part of childhood development. However, there seem to be a lot of children who are... how shall I ...
17
votes
5answers
779 views
How do you handle unsupervised, poorly behaved children in public play areas?
This is closely related to this question. However, that primarily deals with interactions at relatively controlled, private functions. This question is more focused on the feeding-frenzy style chaos ...
15
votes
7answers
736 views
How can I negotiate with a toddler successfully?
Recently our 2.5 daughter started being really annoying about doing simple daily things, like brushing her teeth, dressing, undressing, putting on shoes to go out, etc. Often we need to negotiate up ...
15
votes
8answers
2k views
Why should children be rewarded for good behaviour?
I have been reading about star charts and other reward systems for children, and wonder whether rewarding what I would call normal behaviour (e.g. do your chores, don't hit your little brother, etc) ...
15
votes
5answers
706 views
How do you stop a child from talking back without discouraging them from asserting themselves?
Our 3.5 yo is starting to talk back to us in the typical futile yes/no/yes/no pattern of opposites. The other day it was hooking his straps on his car seat; I asked him to put his arms in (like we ...
15
votes
5answers
2k views
What are some ways to teach a child how to spit (after brushing their teeth)?
Typically, this is something you don't want out of a child. My 4 1/2 yr old has been brushing his own teeth for about a year. The problem is that I can't convey to him to spit out the toothpaste. I ...
14
votes
10answers
6k views
My 5 year- old daughter is constantly defiant!
My 5-year old daughter is very defiant.
It started getting bad about 6 months ago. She doesn't do what she is told, and any time she hears the word no she throws terribly over dramatic fits screaming ...
14
votes
6answers
3k views
When should a child stop using a pacifier, and how can I help with this transition?
I am curious how a child can be helped to move on from his/her pacifier, and what age is a good age to do this?
14
votes
3answers
625 views
How do you address hoarding behavior in a primary-schooler?
Our 9 year old girl has a rather annoying habit. She tends to hoard things of emotional significance to her. Note that the wrapper from an ice-cream she has just had for the first time is considered ...
13
votes
3answers
746 views
How do you handle grandparents who spoil your children?
Our parents suddenly don't apply their rules in our upbringing to our children. On the contrary. How should we deal with this. Do we just let it be, or should we discuss the matter. I understand that ...
13
votes
1answer
447 views
Why does my son behave better when he's alone with one parent than with both?
Whenever I'm alone with my son, we play, have fun, and he even plays alone with his toys for a long time; this also happens when my wife is alone with him.
However, when we are both present, he ...
12
votes
7answers
6k views
Why does my child eat so slowly?
When we have a family meal, the middle daughter will always take her time. I mean up to 2 hours, to finish a meal, especially if its not her kind of food. She'll get very easily distracted, sing to ...
12
votes
7answers
984 views
How much of an effect does parenting style have on a child?
I'm not a parent and I haven't done as much research as anyone on this website.
This question is motivated by looking at many of my friends. Sometimes, I find that one sibling is a high achiever, ...
11
votes
3answers
755 views
Why does my baby grind her face into my shoulder?
During episodes of fussiness, my 6-week-old daughter has started grinding her face into my chest or shoulder. She shakes vigorously from side to side like she's trying to burrow out the other side. ...
11
votes
7answers
217 views
How do we teach our 1 yr. old that “no” isn't a game?
We have a little girl that's almost 13 months old. She's found that when she touches a power cord or near an electrical outlet and we say "no" that it's a bit of a game. She gets a funny smirk on her ...
11
votes
2answers
555 views
Toddler has a strong preference for one parent
Our almost 2 year old toddler has developed a strong preference for me. In mild doses, this was acceptable but it is getting pretty out of hand. She cries when my husband, her father, tries to hug ...
10
votes
5answers
1k views
How to handle a 11y/o son who act like a girl?
I have an 11 y/o son who is showing a tendency towards becoming gay. People have seen him walking like a girl but I haven't. I'm thinking that they are just judgmental.
On his computer games he ...
10
votes
2answers
281 views
Have studies shown whether toys that feature guns or other weapons prominently promote violent behavior?
Note: I am looking for referenced answers only! Answers citing one or more peer reviewed studies, or, better yet, a meta analysis of several such studies, would be ideal. Answers that reference ...
10
votes
7answers
3k views
How can I get my child to stop biting others?
How do I get my 5-year-old to stop biting his brother and classmates?
10
votes
4answers
2k views
What constitutes verbal abuse of one's child?
I frequently see parents engaging in behavior that I perceive to be verbal abuse. However, with so many parents falling in different places with regard to the strictness of their discipline, the ...
10
votes
2answers
309 views
Should imaginary friends be accepted or discouraged?
As a professional working with families, I am often asked about imaginary friends. I never experienced this behavior with my own son so I have little personal information to share.
One child ...
10
votes
5answers
333 views
How do you respond to a teenager who has started to smoke?
How can you best handle this? Coming off as too strong and authoritative might invite "rebellion". Too lenient makes it seem okay.
What is the best response for driving home the dangers and risks ...
10
votes
6answers
327 views
How do you address a 5 year old that has problems accepting corrections?
My 5 year old niece who is 'kind of' smart, (i.e. was playing solitaire online before her 3rd birthday and is now doing 4 digit addition/subtraction and multiplication up to 5's; and reads chapter ...
10
votes
3answers
559 views
How do you operate a successful “Star Chart”?
So, one of the techniques for improving behaviour that you often hear about is the "star chart". You put the focus on good behaviour by adding stars (I nearly said "badges") for the good stuff and ...
9
votes
5answers
397 views
Is complimenting children where they can hear it good or bad?
TL;DR: Is there anything wrong with praising children to their parents while the children can hear it?
From R. Kipling's "The jungle book":
‘How beautiful are the noble children! How large are ...
9
votes
6answers
2k views
What should you do after you've raised your voice at your child?
We've all lost our cool at one point or another. We all know its terrible to raise your voice at your kids, but every once in a while we slip. I've occasionally raised my voice to my teenager and to ...
9
votes
4answers
468 views
1 yr old boy prefers dad
I am the proud father of a little 1 yr old boy. My wife and I love him to pieces! A few months after his birth I suffered through a terrible bout of anxiety attacks. Turns out it was just my way of ...
9
votes
7answers
7k views
Why won't our infant stop crying when in the car seat?
We have a 2-month-old baby that will start crying as soon as we put her in the car seat and absolutely will not stop until she is out of it. She could be fed and asleep with a new diaper before the ...
9
votes
3answers
269 views
How can I handle a child that claims medical problems as a bad excuse?
I have 3 kids who seem to use medical reasons for excuses, most often to not go to bed. For instance, my 7 year old periodically "Can't move" at bed time to get to his bed, but when he gets in there, ...
9
votes
3answers
396 views
How can I motivate my child who doesn't care about rewards?
My son is 8 and has always been argumentative and basically lazy with doing ANYTHING since he could talk.
If he has homework that takes ten minutes, he will take two hours due to just leaving the ...
9
votes
4answers
571 views
How to deal with incessant talking?
Our 4 year-old is constantly talking. This isn't your average pestering parents on a topic until they answer or you lose interest. He never loses interest and continually switches to any random ...
9
votes
2answers
558 views
How can I help my child to stay still?
My 3 year old son is generally very well behaved and plays well with others. However, he just wont sit still when we need him to. He is good at staying still when he is focused on something, but as ...
9
votes
3answers
458 views
How do you moderate a teenager's obsessive or excessive behavior?
We're not dealing with teenagers yet but I would really like to avoid this kind of outburst.
How have parents with teenagers been able to find/establish a balance for their children to not be so ...
8
votes
4answers
456 views
How do I teach my toddler not to abuse animals?
We have two dogs and two cats, and our son loves to interact with them, but his form of interacting is not particularly enjoyable to the animals...
Some of the things he does are just annoying, like ...
8
votes
3answers
211 views
Can you effectively influence the behavior of a 6 month old?
I've just started feeding my daughter solids, and I would like to teach her to not blow raspberries while there is food in her mouth (which is cute, but messy.)
Is it possible to communicate to her ...
8
votes
4answers
224 views
When should a toddler get out of the oral fascination?
Our boy is a few months away from his 4th birthday... but he still puts darn near everything in his mouth. We are constantly talking to him about what should and should not go in his mouth, only food ...
8
votes
2answers
133 views
14 month old…head shaking and hitting self…should I be worried?
My 14 month old daughter started to shake her head and hitting herself throughout the day:
sometimes when she's eating and sitting in the high chair, she'll shake her head from side to side for a ...
7
votes
5answers
451 views
What makes a kid turn bully, and how to prevent him from turning into a bully?
I have heard about bullies in schools, haven't ever seen or faced them in real
life though.
I would like to know what makes a kid bully, and how to prevent him from
becoming a bully?
7
votes
7answers
972 views
How strict should we be with our 14 month old boy?
Our baby is really sweet :)
Generally can be considered as a good / easy going baby. There are times though, when he gets totally out of control.
I've had a discussion with a child-psychologist who ...
7
votes
6answers
372 views
teenage child with severe daily temper tantrums and whining
My 13 year old daughter has severe and daily outbursts - sometimes as many as 10 a day - from time she gets up till time she goes to bed. This has been going on since she was of walking and talking ...
7
votes
5answers
866 views
Any suggestions on how to control yelling and negativity on our part, and also teach my 8 yr old son to not feel so helpless and cry so easily?
This is about my 8-year old son, who cries easily and helplessly, mostly in response to our enforcing discipline and routine or refusing things he wants.
I understand that he should not expect to be ...
7
votes
2answers
264 views
My 8 year old daughter was taught by her classmates how to use the middle finger. How do I get her to stop this behavior?
Two of my daughter's 8 year old class mates taught my daughter how to use the middle finger. My daughter is now obsessed and wont stop. We don't use this at home and find it offensive. However she ...
7
votes
2answers
414 views
My child doesn't want to be seen in public with me… what should I do?
I drive my 10 year old child to school each day. However, lately he has been complaining about my dropping him off at school. He says it is embarrassing to be seen being dropped off by his father, ...
7
votes
5answers
2k views
How to prevent children from sucking their thumb?
My 4-years-old daughter still sucks her thumb while sleeping.
How can help her stopping this habit?
I have tried to give her a pacifier, but she refuses it.
She does not have this habit during the ...
7
votes
1answer
315 views
How to deal with a naughty nephew?
I live in a joint family with two of my uncles, and I have a very naughty five year old nephew who's a nuisance to the entire household.
We live in a flat and my nephew throws stuff out of the window ...
7
votes
4answers
1k views
9 year old has uncontrollable raging fits
We have 4 kids, aged 9, 6, 4 and 20 months. boy, girl, boy girl. The nine year old boy is in general a delightful, well-behaved, kind and considerate boy. Sometimes he becomes so overwhelmed by his ...
7
votes
4answers
1k views
How do I get my child to stop picking his nose?
My son picks his nose and, yes, eats it. How can I get this to stop?
