behavior

Hitting, Kicking, Biting and Hair Pulling

By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of The No-Cry Discipline Solution

Children resort to aggressive behaviors because of a lack of wisdom and self-control. It is not a sign that a child is hateful or mean. Kids are human beings and human beings will get angry, we can’t prevent that. What we can do is teach our children how to handle their frustration and anger in appropriate ways. » Read more

Eating Out with Kids: Restaurant Behavior

By Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Discipline Solution » Read more

Getting Over Thumb-Sucking

Thumb-sucking is a completely natural act of self-soothing that many babies begin when they are still in the womb. But while an infant sucking his thumb may look sweet and innocent, a five-year-old sucking his thumb may become the object of pity or ridicule. So at what point does thumb-sucking become a bad habit? And how can you help a thumb-sucker find other ways to soothe himself? » Read more

Your Tattling Toddler

By Nancy Da Silva

Think of the biggest gossip in your group of friends. If you can’t pick one out, chances are it’s you. If you were to trace that person back to their childhood, there’d be a pretty good possibility that they were a notorious tattle tale. People gossip and children tattle for pretty much the same reasons. It gains them attention and makes them feel important. » Read more

Three Steps for Meeting a Dog: Instructions for Parents

By Colleen Pelar, CPDT, CDBC

It is very important to teach kids how to interact with dogs they are interested in. Childish excitement could be interpreted as a threat by inexperienced dogs. » Read more

Avoiding Food Battles

By Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers, www.FreshBaby.com

It's common for food to become a source of conflict in most families. Many parents employ a bargaining or bribing approach to get their kids to eat healthy foods. This is not the best strategy as it encourages your child to resist, a trait that most kids excel at from a very young age. » Read more

When toddlers bite other children

By Elizabeth Pantley, Author of Gentle Baby Care

A worried mother asks, “Today at our play group my son BIT my friend’s daughter! My friend acted like it was a normal childhood problem, and told me not to worry about it, but I’m horrified! Why did my son do this? How can I prevent it from happening again?” » Read more

Toddler Bullies: Taking The ‘Play’ Out Of Playtime

By Nancy Da Silva

We all remember the schoolyard bully. Sometimes we were on the receiving end of their taunts and aggression, sometimes we watched as they teased someone else. Hopefully once we get older we no longer have to deal with bullies. But what happens when the bullying is now happening to our children and well before they even enter school? » Read more

Time Out & Your Toddler: When Can You Start?

By Nancy Da Silva

Ninety percent of the time when your toddler misbehaves it’s because he wants attention. Think about it. In your busy life, you do your best to fulfill the needs of your child, your spouse, your work and if you’re lucky, yourself. You love your child but you feed him, clothe him and bathe him as part of the automatic everyday routine of being a mother. » Read more

Outsmarting Your Toddler – Best Discipline Strategies

By Nancy Da Silva

Parents who are afraid of disciplining their children and saying ‘no’ are creating a society of little terrors and down right brats. Then these same parents bemoan the breakdown of society. » Read more