Frustrated because your child won't stop hitting others, especially you? Learn exactly how to discipline a toddler who hits, all without losing your cool. I was that mom at the park, the mom who practically had to wrestle with her toddler's flailing arms because he was throwing a fit. Apparently it wasn't cool that I was pushing his brother on the swing while I left him on his own—and it was enough to drive him to start hitting me. With three boys, he was the only one who truly took to hitting. Usually he'd hit when he was throwing tantrums, and only toward certain people (ahem: … [Read more...]
Top Challenges (and Solutions!) for Sibling Rivalry
Fed up with your children fighting all the time? Learn how to stop the bickering with these effective sibling rivalry solutions! The things my kids fight about almost seem comical. They fight about who gets to hop inside the van first at school pick-up to whose turn it is to play with a quarter-inch Lego piece. Other times it's the rude tone of voices that sets them off, or a comment taken as teasing and taunting. Perhaps you can relate. Maybe it feels like your kids are always fighting or tattling on one another. Every minute, someone is running up to tell you how the other was being … [Read more...]
14 Children’s Books about Empathy to Read with Your Child
Want to raise kids with empathy for other people? Read these 14 children's books about empathy to discuss how others feel and to teach your child compassion. Your child may not know this skill by name, but it's what happens when she can relate to the skinned knee and wailing tears of another child who had fallen off a bike. When she switches gears after realizing her friend isn't in a good mood to play. When she knows better than to tease her brother, because she understands what it's like to feel teased herself. Empathy. It's one of the most important skills to nurture, and one … [Read more...]
How to Teach Your Child to Be Assertive
Assertiveness for kids is an important social skill to teach. Discover effective techniques to help your child assert himself and voice his opinions, whether to peers or adults. At the park, an older child noticed my twins playing with sticks they had found on the ground. "I want that," he said, pointing to one of the sticks my son held in his hand. "Here," my son replied, handing him the shorter stick. The boy didn't relent, and pressed for the longer stick. At that point, I did something I knew I shouldn't have done: I stepped in. "Actually, that's his stick," I told the … [Read more...]
What to Do when Your Toddler Prefers One Parent
Struggling when your toddler prefers one parent over the other? Learn the best ways to help him cope with separation anxiety and take to both parents. "What am I—chopped liver?" my husband joked. Although he's a hands-on dad and invested in our kids, our then-toddler always preferred me over him. Even after being away at work, my husband couldn't convince our son to so much as pay him any attention. He'd start playing games, but our toddler wanted nothing to do with it. And diaper changes? I was the "lucky" one who had to do them all. We have to hand it to our partners for being … [Read more...]
How to Get Your Twins to Stop Fighting
Frustrated with your twins fighting all the time, especially when nothing seems to work? Learn the essential habits that will encourage them to get along. First it was Spiderman. Then Batman. This last time, it was Superman. Each new toy my husband gave our twins became the Hot Item they had to fight over. Never mind that they also received other superheroes—they always wanted what the other person had. While newborn twins are hard, the toddler and preschool years with twins can be just as challenging, especially when they fight all the time. It's enough to make any mom feel like … [Read more...]
How to Stop Children from Biting
Have you found your child biting other kids or even adults? Biting is normal, but you can still learn how to stop children biting when you apply these 6 important steps. My twins' preschool teacher wanted to talk at school pickup, which is usually not a good sign. But I figured, Ok, maybe one of them had a potty accident. Nope. "Today, I saw one of your boys about to bite his brother on the arm," she began. "And a few days ago another boy said he'd bitten him during circle time." Turns out my little guy was biting other kids. I've noticed it myself as well at home. He's usually … [Read more...]
[OLD] The Parenting Technique You Shouldn’t Follow (And What to Do Instead)
When your child misbehaves or cries, it's tempting to do this to get him quiet or stop crying. But this is one parenting technique you shouldn't follow. My kids were fighting over the same fire truck... again. Tired of the arguing, the pleading and tears, I scrambled to find something to break up the fight. And so I dug into the storage bin and found old toys they haven't played with in a while. "Look, check out this new board game!" I announced. And just as I predicted, the fight ended as they scampered toward the new toy. The fire truck sat untouched, no longer a hot issue to cry … [Read more...]
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