Does your child tell on other kids for every little thing? Learn how to stop tattling with these tips and telling on others 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," he'd report about his brother. Or we'd be sitting at the dining table and he'd point out, "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 being quiet in bed." The tattling was getting out of … [Read more...]

Wondering what to do when your child refuses to apologize? Discover positive ways to handle the situation without forcing him to say sorry. My son wasn't in the best of moods. It was one of those, "Let me whine about the littlest things" days. He and his dad were rough housing when he hit his dad with a plastic toy. Right away the air changed from giddiness to tension, and he was in no mood to be schooled. Still, I knelt down to his eye level and said, "We don't hit other people." Okay, so far so good. "Daddy got sad and hurt when you hit him," I continued. When he continued to throw … [Read more...]

Do you make your children share when they fight, or because you think it's polite? Head's up: See why kids shouldn't be forced to share. My two-year-old was scooping sand at the park when another toddler walked over, stood nearby, and clearly wanted to have a turn with the shovel. Now, in the past I would've felt inclined to encourage my son to share the shovel with the boy. After all, we want to teach generosity and sharing, and another child wanting the shovel seemed like a good opportunity. But at that point, I knew better. Because I'll let you in on a little secret: I don't … [Read more...]

Seeing kids argue can be awkward and uncomfortable. Learn how to handle children's social conflicts (and why you shouldn't always step in). No one likes to see their child in a skirmish with another one. But when you witness social conflict, see if you can turn this awkward moment into an opportunity. Maybe it's the little girl who takes every item out of your child's hands, or the boy who wants to "borrow" her shovel. Another child approaches your child despite her desire to play alone. Children's social conflicts can happen closer to home, too. How do you handle scuffles with … [Read more...]

Making sure children know they have a voice is an important task. Learn how to teach your child to be assertive, with 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. Even then, the boy didn't relent, insisting he have 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 … [Read more...]