Sylvia Rimm on Raising Kids from Creators Syndicate

Time to Take the Pull-Ups Off for 09/16/2009

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Q. I have an almost 3 1/2-year-old daughter who refuses to sit on a potty chair! She's very bright and articulate, but "oppositional" in that she says she prefers diapers. She uses Pull-Ups and tells us after the fact that she had a bowel movement or peed. She's the middle child of four. She's a strong-willed little tyke who is resistant to bribes and treats.

A. It's past time ...

Updated: Wed Sep 16, 2009

It's Time to Stop Breast-feeding for 09/20/2009

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Q: My son is almost 3 and I still breast-feed him. When I'm around, he doesn't let anyone else touch him or do anything for him. He won't let others wash him, dress him or pick him up. I love him to bits and was wondering if this is normal. He goes to a half-day program at a Montessori school. He has a wonderful nanny, and she and my mom are around all the time.

He tires me out, so how c ...

Updated: Sun Sep 20, 2009

Entitled Adolescence Can Be a Nuisance for 09/23/2009

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Q: I am a grandparent to a 13-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl. I have cared for them all their lives and loved and did things with them. Lately, they have been acting disrespectfully to their grandfather and me by raising their voices and smarting off frequently. They still come to us for money and items they want. What is wrong with them?

A: Don't take your grandchildren's insolence ...

Updated: Wed Sep 23, 2009

Adopted Children Sometimes Experienced Early Trauma for 09/27/2009

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Q: My son is 7 and has frequent bowel and urine accidents. He's been checked by a gastroenterologist who had us put him on a toileting schedule. This worked for a while. Now he's having accidents again every day. Whenever there's a change in schedule, the accidents reoccur. An example is the change of him attending camp. His summer camp teachers are saying he will not be able to attend because ...

Updated: Sun Sep 27, 2009

Reverse Psychology Teaches Opposition for 09/30/2009

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Q: I have a 3-year-old boy with constantly bad behavior. He rarely behaves and will do the opposite of most everything I say. I know consistency is the key, but it's not always possible. I work hectically and can't maintain a regular schedule with my son. I have two part-time jobs and can't afford day care or my own place, so I live with my family.

I punish my son when he's bad, but the ...

Updated: Wed Sep 30, 2009

Family has Heated Arguments about Toy Weapons for 10/04/2009

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Q. My 10-year-old nephew has ADHD. He takes medication for it and his parents are usually vigilant about his behavior, but there is something my brother-in-law and I don't agree on.

While staying at their house one weekend, the boy struck me in the crotch several times with his toy sword, and it was hard enough not to be fun (if you catch my drift). He also took his suction-cup dart gun ...

Updated: Sun Oct 04, 2009

You Can Learn to Write Essays for College Applications for 10/07/2009

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Q. I'm a good writer and get high grades on my writing assignments, except I lose points on essay exam questions. Now I'm applying to college. I have very good SAT scores and an excellent grade point average, but I heard that colleges put a lot of weight on essay questions. I'm afraid I'll mess up like I do on essay exams because I'm not sure what they're looking for.

A. It's easier for ...

Updated: Wed Oct 07, 2009

Night Training Difficult for Deep Sleepers for 10/11/2009

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Q: I have a 4-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl. Both have been potty trained during the day for years. However, both still wear diapers at night. I have tried various things to help them stay clean and dry at night (limiting water after supper, waking them up to go to the toilet, having them use the toilet before bed), but neither child has ever awakened dry in the morning. In fact, both chil ...

Updated: Sun Oct 11, 2009

Needy Granddaughter May Feel Dethroned for 10/14/2009

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Q: My 6-year-old granddaughter and her parents welcomed twin brothers to their family about 18 months ago. She is completing kindergarten and successful at many activities, but she bites her nails waiting for her turn at gymnastics, on the soccer field, and at times when she's in activities with other children. Although a good student and successful in school, her teacher described her as " ...

Updated: Wed Oct 14, 2009

Temper Tantrums Require Treatment for 10/18/2009

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Q: I don't know if something is wrong with my nephew, if his behavior is the result of poor parenting, or both. He is 10 years old and still throws tantrums. He will lie down on the floor and flail his legs. When he was younger, his tantrums were so extreme that I'd have to describe them as nuclear meltdowns.

The last time I saw him, I noticed that he randomly makes a noise that sounds l ...

Updated: Sun Oct 18, 2009

Tween Should Sleep Alone for 10/21/2009

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Q: I have an almost 10-year-old stepdaughter who visits us on alternate weekends. She sleeps in the bed with my husband and refuses to sleep in her bed in her room. She throws tantrums if we tell her she has to start sleeping in her bed. We have set a separate bed next to ours, so that she is still close to us at night, but that doesn't convince her.

She wants to be in physical contact w ...

Updated: Wed Oct 21, 2009

Experiencing a Fire is Traumatic for All for 10/25/2009

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Q: My 3-year-old son and I live with my parents, grandmother and younger sister. Two months ago, we had a bad house fire. I was at a doctor's appointment and had left my son with my mother, grandmother and sister. I received a call from the neighbors that the house was on fire and rushed home immediately. An old lamp downstairs started the fire. Everyone was upstairs, and when they discovered t ...

Updated: Sun Oct 25, 2009

Late Talker Needs Educational Evaluation for 10/28/2009

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Q: My son is 3 years old. When I correct him or raise my voice to stop him from doing something or messing up things (like pouring water on the carpet or breaking his toys), he starts crying and urinates immediately. He is an active, loving child, but he has a bad habit of pulling things down from places (pulling toys from the showcase or newspapers or books from the desk or table) though he ha ...

Updated: Wed Oct 28, 2009

Investigate Potential Abuse for 11/01/2009

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Q: My 5-year-old daughter recently tried to kiss a boy in an after-school program. When the boy refused her, she tried to kick him in his privates. My husband had a long talk about how this was wrong and inappropriate. The next day, she tried to kiss a boy on his "pee-pee," again was refused, and she kicked him also.

She has never, ever behaved this way. I am perplexed as to ho ...

Updated: Sun Nov 01, 2009

Sports Teams and Group Interests Help for 11/04/2009

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Q: I just googled "How do I teach my 7-year-old boy to be more assertive" and got your newsletter. I have a 7-year-old son who has always been on the "shy side." He is the type of boy who is totally into playing with Legos and really doesn't like to be around a lot of children.

With that said, he has developed very good friendships with a few boys in our neighborhood ...

Updated: Wed Nov 04, 2009

Social Skills Important for ADHD Teen for 11/08/2009

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Q: I'm at my wits' end. My daughter has Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder. She is very witty and intelligent, but she has a hard time obeying authority and getting along with people. She's been this way since she was 18 months old. She's now 14, in the ninth grade, and on medication. Are there any programs/therapy that teaches teens how to get along with peers? I'm in the Atlanta area.
Updated: Sun Nov 08, 2009

Preschooler Uses Potty for Attention for 11/11/2009

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Q: I recently joined a new family as a stepmom of two beautiful, well-behaved kids. However, we are encountering a slight problem. The girl asks to go "wee wee" for attention, meaning she doesn't really have to pee. If I'm busy with the boy, her daddy, or cooking and not giving her attention, she will announce that she has to go to the bathroom. I would like to know how to correct the ...

Updated: Wed Nov 11, 2009

Child Needs to be Gradually Weaned from Parent Attention for 11/15/2009

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Q: My 13-month-old son cries all the time because he wants to be carried around. I've tried letting him cry in his crib, but I am not sure what else to do. His father or I can't even go to the restroom without him throwing a fit. I'm a stay-at-home mom and am looking for work since the economy is so bad, but I can't walk out the door without him screaming right behind me.

And his dad can ...

Updated: Sun Nov 15, 2009

School Principals are Critical for 11/18/2009

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Q: I read your site about parents and teachers needing to be united and commend you for this undertaking. Parents and teachers are divided largely due to parents being kept in the dark about what is going on in their child's school. This happens because teachers fear talking and risking consequences.

The silent epidemic is principal abuse of teachers. When principals abuse teachers, teac ...

Updated: Wed Nov 18, 2009

Divorced Mother Needs Dad's Support for 11/22/2009

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Q: I have a 16-year-old son and have been divorced from his father for 12 years. He lives with his dad in town one week and then with me 10 miles out in the country. We've always had a great relationship, and for the most part, he's been easygoing and fun-loving. He's very social and is obsessed with texting on his cell phone, which was a gift from his dad because I can't afford cell phones and ...

Updated: Sun Nov 22, 2009