Assertiveness for kids is an important skill to teach. Discover effective techniques to help your child assert herself and voice her opinions. 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 boy. "Maybe you can find another one … [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 Tattling
Does your child tell on other kids for every little thing? Learn how to stop tattle telling in your child once and for all. It was starting to get predictable. I'd leave the twins to cook in the kitchen when one of them would follow after a few minutes. "He was jumping on the couch," my three-year-old would report about his brother. Or we'd be sitting at the dining table and he'd say, "He's playing with his water cup." Sometimes he'd even start the day with yet another report before saying hello: "He was talking instead of staying quiet in bed." The tattling was getting out of … [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...]
How to Get Your Child to Help with Younger Siblings
What do you do when older kids refuses to help with younger siblings? Follow these tips to encourage your child to help willingly and on her own. The image of the responsible older child helping with younger siblings? It wasn't happening for SSBE reader, Isabella. She wrote: Hi Nina! I have 3 year old twins, and a 13 year old daughter. My 13-year-old doesn't like helping out with the younger kids and I don't know how to get her to play and interact with them. Hats off to Isabella for reaching out with what can only be a frustrating experience. And here's what I told her: How to get your … [Read more...]
What to Do if Your Child Is Talking in Class Too Much
What do you do if your child is talking in class too much? Help her focus, pay attention, and learn in class with these gentle and effective tips. Jeanette saw the dreaded teacher's note. As usual, it said her child had been disrupting the class again with her nonstop talking. She was also getting left behind because she was missing or misunderstanding instructions. When your child is talking in class too much Jeanette tried punishment, which never seemed to work. And both she and her teacher recognized her daughter is a bright girl. But she was running out of ideas on how to get … [Read more...]
What to Do if Your Child Shows Off to Others
What do you do if your child shows off to others, whether on purpose or not? Here's how to handle social situations when kids end up showing off. "I read the most pages out of the whole class," my six-year-old's classmate announces to us. She continues with her accomplishments, particularly how far ahead she is compared to everyone else. My son looks to me, unsure how to respond. "That's cool," I say. Later, after she left leaves, I explain to my son about showing off. It got me thinking how I'd want him not only to steer clear from showing off, but to respond maturely as well when … [Read more...]
7 Effective Ways to Teach Your Kids to Share
Not sharing with other kids and family members is common with children. Learn effective ways to teach kids to share with these 7 tips. Kids are notorious for not sharing. They won't let other kids play with sand toys. They refuse to let go of the steering wheel at the park, and they hold tight to their belongings even if they weren't interested in them a minute ago. Normal it may be, we still want to teach kids to share and interact with other children or siblings. My twins are learning how to share and take turns be default—they're twins, after all. Add in my eldest and you can see … [Read more...]