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How do I help children who think they don't need to know math, still learn math and have fun doing it? I am teaching mathematics for students from elementary school to senior high school. I advise the students to learn mathematics (as the language of nature) as well as English (as the international language), sciences ...	Sit down with them and talk about their career plans and which math it is they will need to use for that career. Play a game of poker (for cookies or something) with them and talk about how understanding probablilities helps their game.
How do I wean my 2 year old from requiring holding my hand to sleep? Sometimes my wife would hold my 2 year old daughter's hand during her bedtime to put her to sleep.Recently when she wakes up in the middle of the night she would cry and ask for our hand so she can calm herself down to sleep. Tonight she woke up many...	Then remove your finger but sit with her and rub her back or forehead a little while she drifts off, then spend a few nights just sitting with her (while she holds her own finger), and so on until you no longer need to be in the room at all. Children believe what their parents tell them. In our experience this is hard ...
Evidence based guidelines for front or rearward facing pushchairs/strollers? Most pushchairs are forward facing. Recently the opinion seems to be that rearward facing ones are better as they allow the child to see your face. I am wondering if this is yet another childcare opinion that has taken hold (perhaps to be la...	If you're walking your child around outside, it's also much easier to assess whether they're comfortable or being dazzled by sunlight if they're facing backwards. Facing front is not a bad thing, but the thinking is that facing parent is better. Learned behaviour passed down through generations is equally likely to dri...
2 year old has very runny stuffy nose for 4 months My 2 year old has runny nose for 4 months. Doctor says 1 time its cold, another time its allergy, but nothing clear. Tylenol doesn't help and i really can't believe that cold can be 4 months. She can't breath and I thought its simple allergy, but ceterezin and benadril...	Any 'cold' that doesn't clear up in a short time usually means an allergic reaction to something.. You're just suppressing the symptoms, not fixing the underlying cause. Insist that you be referred to a specialist.
How can I keep my newborn baby warm during nappy change? I'm 3 days in to parenthood and every time I change my son he makes heart-wrenching screams that go through my skull. I have deduced that it is due to being cold; it's Winter here and really starting to get nippy. Even so, it is 21°c+ in the room but he still ge...	You could always put a nice thick blanket in a dryer, test the heat level, and place it at the base of the changing table to keep his back side warm.
Diapering a 7 month old that is almost ready to crawl This little boy just won't stay put and rolls over onto his tummy within seconds of being laid down. I'm sure you understand the consequences of this when I've just opened up a nice juicy poopy diaper but haven't quite pulled it away yet. Things I've tried: offe...	As well as toys etc, we've given ours a clean nappy while we deal with the stinky end A child is never too young to learn, and a baby will learn things you never thought they'd pick up on.
My 4 year old son always keeps something besides him when he sleeps. Is that normal? My son always keeps something besides him while sleeping. It can be anything, not necessarily a toy. Does that mean he fears something? <Q> I've known quite a few kids that just wanted to hold on to something while they fell asleep. ...	Having a cozy, or something to regularly cuddle with is also completely normal and acceptable at this age as well. I wouldn't jump to the conclusion it means he is fearful, its just a part of how he sleeps. Growing up in the big world is scary for children, and security blankets, known in child development jargon as "t...
At what age do teenagers begin to masturbate? This is a delicate question. It is not a subject that I can ask my children about. At what age can a parent expect this activity to start? <Q> Many kids will "play" even as toddlers and in elementary school and just experiment with the different sensations that happen in t...	It depends on the kid actually. Because the libido spikes around puberty, this is the most common time to start regular masturbation (usually as a tween), especially for boys.
What can be done to encourage grandparents to be equitable between siblings? The short question is this. How can we as parents encourage our parents to be more equitable in their treatment of their grandchildren? As background here is my situation. When my wife and I got married, we had made the decision that we weren...	On the other hand, as long as both kids are getting time to spend with their grandmother, I wouldn't worry too much about the amount of time being equal. Unless there are some gross inequities or it actually starts to bother someone, I would just let things play out naturally.
I'm not happy about the new seating order in my class I am 13 and my place in the classroom was changed today because I was talking in the class. But the teacher made me sit next to a girl. While she was thinking about change of seat, she was muttering "hmm, I need a concentrating student to sit next to him..." When ...	Your teacher is hoping this girl will have a good influence and help to prevent chatter. Maybe sitting with a girl that is "boring" in your estimation, but gets good marks could be good for you .
How can we keep our infant safe from small Lego pieces? We have a 4yo and a 1yo. The 4yo has been playing with Lego Duplo for a long time and it's safe for our 1yo because Duplo blocks are specifically made to be "too large to eat." It's clear that the 4yo is ready to move on to "real" Lego. These pieces are smaller,...	Also, you can teach your eldest to not play with Lego outside of the rug.
Stomach damage/sickness long after pregnancy? My wife had quite a tough time during pregnancy. She had morning sickness all the way through, vomiting regularly, although not enough to put her in hospital or require treatment. She also had severe heartburn. As the baby was breach with the cord around her neck, she had a...	If I get overly tired, I am more prone to stomach bugs/nausea than if I am well rested. This is what I learned from my MD and my Naturopath: During pregnancy, hormonal changes occur that impact the mother's immune system, possibly making her more succeptible to viral or bacterial infections. Some people even have probl...
When do girls usually start shaving? Since my heritage includes a few of the more hairy ethnicities from Europe, my family is quite hairy and always has been, (you should see my hobbit feet in winter when I haven't shaved them for example - at least they aren't as bad as my father's but still. . . ) When I was young, ...	Of my wider group of friends, only one has a daughter that has started shaving her legs, but she had to start at about 8 - very early puberty for that one
How to teach a child a foreign language at home when both parents aren't native speakers of a different language? Kid's age is currently 6 months.Country: India I can write English well but am not fluent when it comes to speaking. I don;t have any native English speakers around me. What are my other options of making...	It's essential to learn a language from people who speak it fluently otherwise you will teach your child how to speak the language badly.
My daughter hates all pants other than her sweats? My seven-year-old daughter only ever wants to wear skirts, dresses, or sweat pants. Most of the time, this is just fine, but there are occasions when jeans or slacks are really the most appropriate item to wear (particularly field experiences and times when we will be...	I have also seen jeans lined with sweatpants type of material that she may find more comfortable, although it is significantly warmer and probably only appropriate in winter. It's super common for parents and children to disagree about what a child will need to be wearing in the immediate future (eg, when we get outsid...
Birthday and Christmas on the same date A kid in my neighborhood was born on the 24th of December. As long as he was a toddler, this didn't matter but he’s starting to notice that other kids have separate birthdays from Christmas and get gifts twice. No later than next year, the parents are going to want a solution f...	My own mother deals with her early January birthday by having a "birthday - observed" party much as royalty celebrate their birthday on entirely different days that happen to be convenient.
How to put a newborn/infant to sleep to bed without waking her? There is a question "why do children wake up and cry immediately after being put to bed" already on this site, which has answers partly covering my question. But only partly. How do I put my newborn (or, later on, infant) to bed without waking her? Can...	A good test to see if your newborn is in a deep sleep is the floppy arm test. It works both ways for me and Yes, it does depend on the baby's mood for that night. Put a heating pad in the crib beforehand, let it warm up and remove it just before putting in the baby. Pay extra special attention to the head and neck -- o...
How to keep our 15 month away from the fireplace when she thinks it's a game? We have a fireplace and we're trying to get her to stay away from it but she's infatuated with closing the glass doors which is dangerous for not only her but the rest of us since they have to remain open. We first had a gate around it which ...	Make sure that the 'NO' part is plain and boring, and the distraction is fun and intriguing. Early on, after cooking a meal and setting the plate in front of our daughter, we would tell her not too touch it because "It's hot".
Is Video Chatting Bad for Newborns? I've read that the AAP says that TV is bad for children under 2, but is video chatting (e.g., Skype or Google Hangouts)? My wife & I both have family that is out of state. The grandparents love being able to see our son, and we thought it would be a good way to get to know their ...	The arguments against television are based on providing too much stimulus to a young mind, so putting a toddler in front of a blinking, flashing, huge screen for an hour is not recommended. It ok to watch TV, play tablet or phone games together for a reasonable amount of time, as long as it is done together.
How to prevent or heal chapped cheeks in a toddler? My two-year-old is starting to get chapped cheeks as winter approaches. Last year, his cheeks were red and seemed sore, so I tried rubbing lip balm (chap stick) on the cheeks to help him out. However, I recently read that lip balm will not provide much benefit for cha...	Our doctor told us to apply some fatty face cream, like vaseline. I also believe vaseline that has already been suggested may be a good place to start.
How can I find good lullabies for my child? What is it about lullabies that sooth a child to sleep? What characteristics in music should I look for when trying to find new lullabies to sing to my newborn? <Q> For mine, it wasn't the song, it was that I was the singer. <S> I chose from my favorites, <S> so my kids go...	So the most important aspect of a lullaby is that you be willing to sing it.
16mo still not walking, I think it's my fault? On Thanksgiving my baby girl took her first two steps by herself. When this happened the six people that were around her at the time, including myself, flipped out and started clapping and got really excited and praised her for such a good job. This was probably at an extr...	No matter what, just remember that she will eventually walk. The best thing to do is to stop trying to help, and stop anyone else who may be around from trying to help too.
Kid screaming after waking up in a car? I recently became involved with this awesome guy who has two kids. His son who is 3 is a very sweet boy. But when we take car rides and he wakes up while in the car he is hysterical. I've heard of kids waking up scared but normally a few comforting words and the kids ok. With him...	It may be distressing for you, but if it's distracting for the driver you should stop and get them settled down before continuing the trip. As far as what to do about it, I would try lots of encouragement with the best distraction you can come up with. Getting to do something rare and fun often wakes them up enough to ...
What are some good natural teethers? It seems our 6 month baby wants to take everything in her mouth, it would be nice if we were able to give her some natural food-based teethers, but which edible substances can be used as teethers? Do they require any processing and what kind? <Q> If you try carrots, you should watch...	Like in my experience, after going through multiple toys, my daughter finally fell in love with the Silicone Teething Mitten Baby Glove, which in my opinion, actually topped other teething toys. A lot of people recommend cold carrots, but the problem with carrots is that the baby can break a piece off that is just the ...
How can I explain New Year to a preschooler? We've been trying to explain New Year to our 4-year-old but since he doesn't yet have a good understanding of the calendar, time references are meaningless to him. How do you explain this? This is a seed question. I know at least one good answer myself but I'd like to ...	We're celebrating the birthday of the year. It's difficult to explain to a kid, what a year is, but we can explain, what is 10-second period, then - day, month and year.
How do I babyproof an electrical baseboard heater? My son is 9 month old, and our rental apartment has an electric baseboard heater, similar to this http://cadetheat.com/show_product.php?prodid=1004 I'm sure it's very dangerous to touch it when it's hot/turned on, but it is attached to the wall very low (the website...	Put the drywall mesh tape together so that it is wide enough to cover the opening in the heater. When it is on and hot, bring your toddler near it -- close enough to feel the heat, but not to burn the little bugger -- and say "hot! You'd be amazed at what they can learn if you give them a chance, rather than putting up...
What can I do if my 4-month-old baby didn't get enough milk while breastfeeding? I'm a new mummy and my four-month-old son doesn't get enough breast milk. I weigh him before and after breastfeeding, and found out that he gets only 1-2 oz every 4 hours. He didn't gain that much weight this month as well. I spoke to lac...	If gaining & growth is an issue & your little one isn't taking in enough, you can use a supplemental nursing system. Try a different brand of formula.
When do baby's gas pains usually go away? My daughter is suffering from gas pains. We have taken steps to reduce them, which were moderately successfull. Still, I'd like to know when will baby's gas pains go away? When will the baby stop feeling pain during bowel movements and passing gas? What are your experiences? W...	When the gas acts up, I give him swift pats on the bottom and I rub his lower back and tummy. After 3 months and few days, it disappeared. Also, we didn't really see improvements for a couple of days after going to goat's milk formula. Chamomile tea works on my little one, she is now 12 weeks It definitely depends on b...
Are there automatic dripping milk feeders? Does any device exist to automatically feed the baby milk, like how a IV (glucose line) continously drips glucose water? I have in fact seen a similar apparatus (not like how I want) in breast pump manuals as additional gear. I don't know what it is called, but it was connecte...	Generalizing a bit, I think the convenience of any automatic feed system needs to be weighed by the bonding and observation parent/child as they feed. After some search I got this podee bottle feeder which seems to be something similar to what I was searching for.
How to make my 32-month-old regain his interest in eating when he starts to lose weight? My kid is 2 years and 8 months old. From last 2 weeks he has totally lost his interest in eating. In a day he hardly eats anything, for example 3-4 strawberries, few nuts and just a bite from some other snack. His milk intake is al...	So your doctor may be right that there is nothing to be concerned about. If he is becoming dehydrated, you will notice a decrease in urination and also possibly sunken eyes. Especially when our kid get sick, they tend to have a low interest in eating. Have your daily meals and plate it up. From this experience, I sugge...
How can I teach my infant to start sucking bottle teats instead of chewing them? Our 6 month old infant does not seem to understand that the breast milk feeding bottle is for sucking and not chewing or soothing. She does not suck it but chews it instead, despite having no teeth. Sometimes her mother has difficulty br...	Rather than putting the bottle in baby's mouth, I put it to his lips so he had to suck it in. Also, have the doctor check out her mouth to make sure she doesn't have a lip-tie, tongue-tie or other physical issue.
Is it safe to breastfeed an infant while being pregnant? If a mother gets pregnant within 2 months of a newborn, and wants to continue breastfeeding then what precautions she should take during the later trimesters? Will the newborn or the foetus be affected? And is it safe to breastfeed? <Q> Typically it is not the la...	Breastfeeding while pregnant is safe as long as you’re healthy and careful about having healthy diet and plenty of fluids. The data on this isn't conclusive, so it's a medical suggestion, but most Dr's will work with you if you do not desire to wean.
Simple, wooden, not painted or colourful toys, bricks? What toys are better for 1.5 years old toddler - natural, simple, wooden, unpainted bricks or very colourful ones? Natural were recommended by Rudolf Steiner (and are used in schools teaching with his methods) and they orjust feel right, but most of today's toys ar...	I personally would probably choose colored blocks, because I think it is quite possible for a child to build a garage or castle without really "seeing" the colors, and having colored blocks allows you to engage the left side of the brain as well with color recognition, sorting, and patterning. What's available tends to...
How to stop parents from interfering with my love life? Well - I am not entirely sure if this is the right forum, but if you know any, I would really appreciate if you could recommend me some. This is about parenting... from the son's perspective. I am 28 and my parents are pushing me to marry someone. Since they are...	They may not like it and depending on how rigid they are in their beliefs, may develop some strong emotions about it, but in the end they cannot force you to do what you don't want to do. If you have open minded relatives whom you are close to bring them into the picture.
How much water should be given to an infant producing hard stools? We have started giving Nestle Cerelac Rice (12 spoons per day) + 360ml infant formula per day to our 6 month old baby (at the gap of 3 hours). The baby has started producing hard stools for past few days. I don't want to fill her stomach with water in...	After agreeing with 'ask the doctor', I'd also suggest perhaps stopping the rice+formula and seeing if that fixes things. Since we can't be sure how much she is getting (my wife is breastfeeding), we do the following: adjust the level of water, teas, juices as we observe her diapers;
9 week old started fussing during evening nursing Two days ago our 9 - almost 10 - week old breastfeeding daughter started fussing during evening nursing. Yesterday it was better, there was little screaming (though there was some), but today we're back to really loud and intensive fussing. It's almost crying. And she s...	It turns out that she was in the middle of a growth spurt and it (with a bit of overtiredness, she didn't nap too well around that time) seems to have been the cause. Some babies are blessed with little or none whilst others are different.
How to help a 2-year-old waking at night? My 2-year-old daughter wakes up at night crying and fighting. Sometimes I rock her back to sleep and she falls back into a calm sleep. Other times she pushes herself to get away from me or starts yelling and crying. Can anybody give me some advice on what I should do? <Q> It ...	If she is overtired, she may not sleep as well, and wake up more easily from dreams. Then, have an extended story time for a few nights.
Strategies for difficult bedtime routine for young toddler I have a 2.5 year old who is not much of a sleeper - as in, he sleeps on normal days from 10pm to 6am, plus a 2 hour nap on weekdays and sometimes on weekends. We have a fairly good bedtime ritual, although the times aren't always exact (we have a 10 month old...	Might also suggest shortening or rearranging times to make it a more definite "sleep time now " as it kinda sounds like a stop and start with the toys, reading and songs. My point being - your limits are well respected by your child (and you can be proud of it). Maybe read a couple books or sing songs before going upst...
How to decide which stroller to buy? There are so many kinds out there. What is the most important thing to consider?That it would be easy to close it or that the child will be facing toward you? <Q> I bet there are books on "how to choose a stroller";) <S> It will also behave better in difficult terrain. <S> Also, th...	Finally, go to the store and check it out yourself. A short list of important things to consider: size and type of wheels - a stroller with bike-like large wheels will handle better than a stroller with small plastic wheels. So for us, the ability to manuver it around when the kid wasn't in it was quite key.
How do I make sure kids don't run on the stairs? I have short stairs in the house, between ground floor (where the kitchen and kid's game room are) and 2d floor (where their bedrooms/bathroom is). For safety reasons, they aren't allowed to run up/down stairs because their preferred shoes make it too easy to trip on th...	Why don't you try putting a gate across the stairs when they're playing. Falling up the stairs isn't very dangerous in a child; it hurts, but it doesn't usually do any permanent damage from what I've read (too short to get concussions easily from the fall) and falling 'up' is even safer from the permanent point of view...
How to help an overscheduled toddler as a nanny? I'm a nanny, working with a 16-month-old girl. Since she was 11 months old she started with some activities, French class and play classes. Now she is really busy, with classes every weekday, each day in a different time (Monday 4 to 4:45pm, Tuesday 10:45 to 11:20, Wedne...	Based on what you've written, it may behoove you to sit down with the parents and ask what else they would like for their daughter. While routine may have benefits, the most important thing is to make sure the child gets plenty of sleep. Perhaps the mother feels like she works too much and can't -- as much as she wants...
How do you find apps that a 2 year old can use and enjoy? My mom bought my 2 year old son a LeapPad2 , which is fun but also a big, big challenge for him at this stage. The tablet is definitely helping him develop his fine motor coordination, but at the expense of being frustrating. He tends to visit the same apps o...	I got the Discovery Animal Alphabet Video app for my 2-year old. I haven't tried the music yet but that may be another possibility.
Is it okay for my child to be a "latchkey kid"? My parents were divorced and separated by the time I was in school. My mother worked full time, and didn't get home until several hours after school ended. As a result, I was what is known as a "latchkey kid", meaning that I had a key to the house, and after school, I w...	I suspect the answer depends on circumstances - not only specific age, but the kid, the local laws, the school regulations, the neighborhood, etc.
How talkative should a three month old be? Our daughter started babbling a lot. She used to throw gu and ga around once in a while, but now she seems to be babbling all the time. She talks to us, to all the chandeliers, her toys, she also fusses babbling instead of soft crying. So how talkative should a three month ol...	Encourage away - babble back at her, make conversation, and start paying attention to the different babbles that begin to have meaning.
Preventing motion sickness in a baby on a plane A few weeks ago, we took our 6-month-old on the plane for the first time. Five hours into a ten-hour flight, with no warning at all, he vomited (and spectacularly, not a little milk burp). A week later on the way back, despite being careful not to overfeed him etc, he d...	Medication can work wonders, but as pointed out by woliveirajr, at such a young age few doctors will prescribe medications without sufficient cause -- for good reason. Very young children are sensitive to things beyond quite a bit of "logic"... All that taken into account, the best anyone can do is prepare for the wors...
What is the best approach for teaching toddlers not to drop items off the table at meals? During discussions with friends about our children (2 years and 16 months old) I discovered that some parents give their children "normal" (and thus breakable) plates and glasses. The reason is because in this way they learn that ...	Be aware that dropping items is a developmental milestone so they're not doing it for attention or to be naughty The way I see it, she now knows what she is supposed to do, and feels happier now that she has obtained a small piece of information about how to navigate through the otherwise uncertain world. Some people g...
What kinds of presents for 0-6 year old children? Scenario: I have absolutely no experience with infants or very young childs. In fact, I never had closer contact with them yet. But now … I’m becoming an uncle/aunt/godparent/close family friend, and I want to give presents to the child (and I may not often be able to...	I only have experience with two-and-unders at this point, but here's what I can recommend: 0 years: Anything that makes music (calmed my son down immediately when he was tired but couldn't sleep), a baby gym, rattles, cloth books, board books, things that crinkle, clothes 1 year: bath toys, scooting toys, foam or cardb...
Is it normal for a 3-year-old to always lay down when playing? I have a 3-year-old grandson. It doesn't matter where he is, ice cold tile floor or on his bed, he lays down to play. I've read that in some children this can be a sign of a learning/sensory disability but he is a very precocious boy. One item I did read ...	If your grandson is craving sensory input, they it is not a bad thing. Many children these days do not have a strong core so it is hard for them to sit straight.
Is eating boogers a problem? (and how can I respond?) My four year old son eats his boogers. I think most kids do. But it is not socially acceptable. I asked him to stop and he asked me why - and told me that he liked how they taste. So I told him that I did not like to watch it and many people did not want to see hi...	You could try using saline spray/drops and having him blow his nose frequently to get rid of the mucous.
How to teach my daughter to get the shampoo rinsed out of her hair throughly? My seven year old daughter has been bathing by herself for some time now, but I find I have to send her back in for another "rinse" quite frequently as I can still see suds and bubbles in her hair from her shampoo. I think the problem is two...	Here's another bit to think about: If her hair is pretty clean to begin with, the shampoo will suds too much even if she IS using the right amount.
What's a good way to cut bread into tiny pieces? When my kids were starting on solid food, at a certain point they started being fed bread, for instance a jam ‡ sandwich. Of course, that needed to be cut into tiny little pieces. Using a fork and knife, however, wasn't a great way to do it. The bread would often tear...	I did "open face" sandwiches - one piece of bread with something spread on it - and cut them into "sticks". If you take a large pair of scissors, you'll be able to cut it as fine as possible.
What is the best way to stop your newborn hiccuping? After feeds and burping sessions, my newborn hiccups quite a lot. Are there any tried and tested positions that help alleviate the hiccups? <Q> My baby had reflux so hiccuping was especially problematic for her as it churned things up EVEN More. <S> So we had to wo...	Give him a pacifier or something to chew on, this can help relieve your baby’s hiccups. Focusing on the sucking motion usually helps him get rid of his hiccups in a matter of minutes.
Are crib mobiles helpful to infants? I remember coming across many suggestions that we add a crib mobile to our crib for our baby. I believe that they were cited as "providing stimulation", and I recall seeing something about bright, strongly-contrasting colors being "better" for the infant. I've also seen sugges...	I think that a child needs to associate its crib with sleeping . There have been studies done with healthy infants whose ankles were tied to a mobile with a ribbon (the earliest of these is cited below; it has been oft-repeated with additional variables).
Is it safe for a pregnant woman to be around someone smoking "e-cigarettes"? A co-worker of mine is pregnant, and was commenting that she was going to be visiting a friend of hers that smokes " e-cigarettes " (sometimes known as "vaping"). She was concerned that her friend might not consider it to be the same thing as...	Ideally the friend would be conscious enough that, even though e-cig smoke is claimed to be harmless, she would opt to refrain from smoking around a pregnant woman or at least ask if she minds first; of course not all people think of these things. We don't know it's safe. Given that she's visiting a friend, and assumin...
best age to start a daycare If you had a choice to stay with your single baby at home as long as you want to, would you still send him to a daycare to communicate with other babies? What age is recommended for starting a daycare, partial time / full time? I would put a baby in daycare at 12 months. But many people thi...	And from two or three onwards, most children really need regular time with other children, and benefit from the (relative) independence and interaction with others they experience at daycare, so daycare is advisable.
How can I get my toddler to drink more water? My toddler doesn't like to drink water.She doesn't seem to notice that she is thirsty, even if her pee is a dark yellow.How do I help her to recognize that her body is thirsty and that drinking enough water is wonderful? <Q> I hate to drink water too. <S> I am not a toddler...	Kids usually love everything sweet, so instead of pure water, you might want to add something to it that changes the taste enough for her to no longer consider it water.
When should my multi-lingual child start kindergarten? We are trying to figure out when to start our child in regards to kindergarten and would like feedback. Our concerns: he is a couple weeks ahead of cutoff so if we start him as normal he will probably be the youngest kid in his class in our area it is normal ...	If you feel your child is ready for kindergarten based on all you know about your child, then your child is ready, with you at the stead to help, guide, and strengthen. Finally, whether he speaks one language or 100 languages does not matter in the choice of beginning kindergarten
Five-year-old fever: what's the cure? Five-year-old fever: that's what her teacher calls it. I'm calling it (IN MY HEAD) the "F*** You Fives." Apparently this is something that almost all of her peers are going through; if I had a nickel for every time I've run into another parent who exclaims "OMG I thought I was th...	One possible thing to try is a 'calm down place', like a play house or corner in her room. It could be that she is just at the point where reading is frustrating. If what she does is not acceptable to you, then don't discuss with her about it, instead state your facts. Make sure that you are very precise on where she i...
How can you offer other parents suggestions without making them defensive? Because we parents spend so much time complaining to each other sharing best practices, we often find ourselves in situations where another parent is sharing an approach or technique that we have learned or read enough to know is less than ...	Give them what information I have if they ask, talk further if they want to, but unless they continue the conversation, just a short, casual mention. If someone else does something with his/her kids that you would not do, then this is his/her decision and his/her responsibility.
Parental "Wow" as a reaction to trivial child achievements The question is based on my personal feelings, so is probably biased and subjective. I frequently see parents (and remember my own) encouraging their children on every trivial or regular achievement by saying a big "WOW" (and making huge eyes) for example, if ...	In short, praising results encourages children to do 'easy' things to get rewards (praise) while praising effort encourages children to do 'hard' things to get rewards, and further helps them deal with failure (ie, praising results means kids are sad about failure and have a harder time dealing with it, while praising ...
First solids and food allergies I started introducing solids to my baby at 4.5 months (by our ped's advice). Here we are, 1 month later, and my baby developed a local rash after 3 out of 5 foods (rice, barley and sweet potato). How can I be sure its a food allergy, and not another kind of rash? 2 of them appeared 40...	If your kid already ate a bowl of cereals and only got a rash from it, it is highly unlikely that there is any lethal allergy from that. Most babies start drooling at the same age as they start eating solids (in fact, it's considered a sign of readiness), and most often it's this saliva plus random vegetable smears tha...
How should you deal with (deliberate) selective deafness? It's a pretty point blank question. In case you don't know what selective deafness is, here's an example: Me: "Hey Timmy, help me carry the laundry?" Timmy: "..." Me: "Hey Timmy, I really could use your help; there is a lot to carry" Timmy:"..." Me: "Hey T...	Until you get through to them, say nothing else. It's up to us to make "obey" a very consistent concept; deviations not tolerated. But again, like Chrys said, the first, most important, most recurrent message our kids should be hearing from us is that we love them, enjoy them and think they are awesome. you can ask for...
Should parents of young children set an example of socializing by using Facebook? If parents don't use Facebook, how will their children know how to use Facebook or other social media technology in healthy ways? Should parents be utilizing these technologies so at least their children will have an example? I'm talkin...	I don't think it is necessary to use all the technology that your children are using to help them understand how to use it safely.
My 2-year-old doesn't want to sleep through the night and drinks 5-7 bottles per night My 2-year-old girl has never slept through the night. She used to wake 3 times a night for a bottle and then 5 times a night for a bottle now she is so bad she wakes up 10-15 times a night and won't go back to sleep without drinking ...	Breaking habits is hard and might involve a lot of crying, but my suggestion would be to not give the bottle at all anymore at night (at 2years they definitely don't need it anymore).
Enforcing minority languages at home We're a bilingual household in a country that speaks a third language. I speak Finnish to the kids, my wife speaks Japanese, and I speak Japanese with her. Our older son recently started going to preschool, so he's picking up English at an expected-but-still-astonishing rate. He ...	I don't think you will be successful at forbidding English at home. He understands the concept of 2 languages, and wants to use both, and wants to learn both. If he speaks English, simply answer in Finnish/Japanese.
Dealing with teens and pornography? Say you know that your son watches pornography and you may or may not have caught him in the act. How do you react to this ? Do you ban him from using the internet/monitor his activities or overlook if you think he watches a little bit once in a while ? Assume that he is not a addict...	I think it is also important to let your boy know that porn, even in its more harmless variants, is not what making love looks like (and explain how it differs).
How can I help my daughter's depression? My daughter is a freshman in college and was sexually assaulted/raped on campus about 7 months ago. I noticed some cuts on her wrist when she was home last weekend and she admitted that she is cutting her wrists. She is not a very open girl and I am not sure what is going on in ...	I would suggest talking to a crisis counselor or psychologist and getting feedback from them on how to help. You can ask that she give you a call after she is cutting, since you are concerned if she is OK or not. Key points that are generally helpful is reinforcing a) that the event doesn't change how you view her, b) ...
How do I get my 5 year old to focus in school Hi I have a 5 year old son and he's having problems focusing in school, he does his homework well and most times without supervision, but his teacher says he's not focusing in school and therefore all the work done in school is being sent for him to do at home. When he's in...	Some children who have good eyes can benefit from a mild prescription glasses to aid the visual processing in the brain. You may also be able to observe some patterns and then suggest some strategies (later, when you're home) for your child to employ. You may want to check that your son isn't tired and eating well. Wea...
How do I define 'rape' to an 8-year-old girl? If you read news and are aware of international affairs, you'll be aware that something cruel had happened in India in December 2012 that shook the whole nation. For months, this was the headlines of all the newspapers, media channels and even a part of local plays, event...	Tell your daughter something like "If anyone tries to make you do something you don't like or makes you feel uncomfortable, tell them 'no', go away and tell me about it". Defining rape as "forcing someone to do sexual things against their will" should be easy enough for an 8 year old to understand - if they know what "...
What's an effective way to deal with toddler transition tantrums ("I don't want to stop yet?") This isn't a question about what general incentives or methods of discipline work best. I'm looking for techniques specific to transitions, like when it's time to stop playing and go somewhere, etc. The reason these seem lik...	The best techniques (for us) involve making the transition as least surprising as possible. Our overall strategy is to be very explicit and help make the transition with understanding and practices/activities that help with separation and expectations. We ask our child to choose to do a "last thing" -- one more puzzle,...
How can I explain "adult beverages" to my preteen? We don't tend to drink much alcohol in our household; I occasionally drink a beer in the evening after the children are in bed or when my wife and I have a date night. So my preteen son doesn't have a ton of exposure to adult beverages besides the commercials on TV spo...	A thick line should be drawn between what is drinking as a custom/fun and drinking as a habit.
Preventing toddler from climbing up the stairs? Our apartment has 2 floors and a wooden staircase between the floors and we are planning to install a gate to prevent the baby to fall down the stairs in an unobserved moment. Is it however also necessary to install a gate downstairs? Is it realistic to assume that a bab...	If you're worried your baby might fall on the stairs, then yes--definitely. Save yourself the gray hairs and throw a gate at the bottom.
How to make an infant stop biting the nipple when breastfeeding? My seven-month-old son has started to bite his mother's breast nipple when she's breastfeeding him. Any ideas on how to make it stop? <Q> At 7 months, the various responses are unlikely to have that much affect, so while your wife could try removal from t...	I would recommend against shouting at or deliberately startling baby, because this can cause a nursing strike.
My infant has started walking -- when should I start making her wear shoes? The infant is 9 months old. She started walking (without support) when she was 8 months old. My parents are pressurizing me to force her to wear shoes. They say she should get a habit of wearing shoes otherwise when she is outside she won't we...	Shoes also protect baby's feet from physical harm.
Is it fair (or adequate) to ask a 4 yr old to stop crying for some reason? In my education, my parents never asked me such a thing. My wife, on the other hand, understands you can ask a child to stop crying (she had a tougher childhood I guess). So I have mixed feelings when she asks our 4 yr daughter to stop crying f...	In other words, yes - there are times when crying is an inappropriate response (or less effective response) to a situation, and being told to stop crying is reasonable.
Is walking barefoot bad for my child's health? I've heard all my life that walking barefoot on a cold floor would make me (when I was a child) more susceptible to catching a cold and things like that. My wife keeps saying that to our child. Is there any evidence (scientific is better) that this is true or false? Is ...	But yes , you have to take care that your kid does not touch its foot so as to avoid infection spreading from there to any other site on its body. No Diseases like flu or cold are caused by viruses or bacteria, not walking barefoot.
How to get a new born to sleep? I am having some trouble to get my daughter of 2 months to go to sleep. Until now, it was very easy to get her to sleep, and she slept most of the day and night. However, a week ago, it began to be increasingly difficult. Now she barely sleeps during the day, and at night, putting her t...	If your baby has just been fed and is sleepy, get her down in her cot straight away, swaddle her hands enough to dampen her startle reflex and stop her waking herself up all the time. An iphone/android app called 'the wonder weeks' may also help you identify when growth spurts and changes in your child's brain are caus...
If and how to childproof USB outlet for a 2-year-old? I bought and installed an electrical outlet with USB chargers. Then, I childproof the power outlet and wondered if the USB ports needed to be childproof too? What if my two-year-old toddler put a flat screw driver in to it? Would it be problematic? Update: I've em...	If instead of poking the device with a screwdriver, your toddler licks the USB socket, he may notice a mild sensation which I assume to be unpleasant, but not painful or dangerous. There are no health risks. At worst, the child will be subjected to 5 volts. All these breakers essentially melt at different speeds depend...
Four year old does not play with toys My four year old son pretty much doesn't play. I mean, he will usually when he has another child to play with but overall, throughout the week he doesn't play. It's driving me crazy because he seems 'bored' and he pesters me constantly. He spends most of the day bouncing between ...	Kids are unique, and some tend more towards imaginative play with toys, while some tend towards social play. You may have to work with him more directly at first - get him to think of the activity as a social activity. I think it is perfectly normal even if your kid isn't interested in playing with toys.
Baby have acid reflux My two month old have acid reflux and is on meds, but she still spit up a lot. Is that normal? I'm breastfeeding and was told breastfed babies don't spit up as much. My three year old was breastfed as well and didn't stip up at all. <Q> None of my kids had reflux, but there were definitely differe...	You should try pumping and measuring out your feedings for a bit to see if that affects her in a positive way. regarding the spit-up: I found it varies immensely.
26 month old son keeps hitting us when he is upset. My 26 month old has begun hitting us when he doesn't get his way. When he realizes we are upset by it, we tell him that he upset us or we give him time out, he cries and tries to hug us and kiss us and says I am sorry and I won't do again. But inevitably repeats the c...	If your kid is upset when you put them in timeout, then it sounds like it is effective. So basically you promote good behavior by rewarding him with things he usually loves to play with. Keep up the consistency, and it will change over time - probably in a few months, but it could take longer depending on the child. I ...
Custodial arrangements in co-parenting: frequency of transfers from one parent to the other I'm in a co-parenting situation and I have the feeling our 3.5-year-old son is suffering emotionally from transferring homes too often. He spends one night with mom, then the following night with dad, repeated almost daily, wit...	The most important thing is to find a schedule that works for the kids and both parents.
Established methods to help fussy/picky eaters at late primary age Our 8 year old daughter has always been a picky eater - even as a baby we had a hard time convincing her to try different baby foods. We assumed she'd grow out of it, but it hasn't happened and it's becoming an increasing problem. I guess we should be...	Sure you should try to convince the child, but certainly you should not force her to eat something they don't like, or punish them for it. I speak from my own experience, I haven't grown up from some of my food pickiness ever. First, allowing her to choose 'leftovers' to the current meal. Maybe it's time to bring in an...
Is it worth sending a kid to a Montessori school? My son is going to be 3 this June. Since he's 2, he goes to a local nursery and kindergarten school. He has picked up a few skills that are necessary at his age. He can now recite the alphabet and speak in two languages (English and my native language). His teacher at ...	I have one friend whose kid was not doing well in a traditional school but thrived in a Montessori school. Fees will tend to be higher because it costs more to receive Montessori credentials and to maintain their standards, much like any other profession.
What is a safe but useful temperature to set your hot water at? As you know, modern hot water systems allow you to set the maximum temperature of hot water coming out, either by using less gas/electricity or by mixing the hot water with cold water to the set temperature. We have baby (our first) arriving in 2 weeks an...	As such, the Consumer Safety Product Commision (CPSC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that hot water heaters in homes with children (and elderly) be set no higher than 120F (49C).
How to prevent my 2-year-old from being bullied by our roommate's child? I have a 2-year-old daughter and I am currently living with a roommate who also has a 2-year-old daughter. My roommate's daughter is constantly bullying my daughter by pulling her hair, biting, hitting, taking toys, pushing her down and throwing ...	also I would just watch the playtime with the two kids and as an adult just step in and say that's not nice, we don't treat each other in that way...try to record some of the situation and playback to the parent, seeing it could help them take control of the child without you having to feel you're being a bad guy
At what temperatures can infants be naked? Assuming indoor conditions (without sun and wind), at what temperature ranges (C and F) can infants (6-12 months) be left to play without clothes or in just a diaper? Bonus points for outdoors in the shadows with light wind. <Q> My daughters loved to be in the nude when they ...	If you're uncertain, but the temperature's decent, let the baby play for a minute and check if it's cold.
How to deal with my teen daughter who is stealing and lying? My daughter has been lying and stealing from us as well as someone she called her BFF. We give her consequences and she continues with her stealing and lying. Recently I found out that she was cutting and I am so very scared for her and don't know what to do....	Your profile says you are in California, so there are clinics available and if she is suicidal to the point of attempting it, taking her to a hospital is actually the best way to go. It may be hard to reward good behaviors while these types of things are going on but praising other things won't condone bad behavior. Do...
How do I help my wife be more engaged with our child in the mornings? My 3-year-old child wakes up after about 6-8 hours of sleep which I think is normal. I get up around that time to pick up the house, study for school, and then I head out to work. When he wakes up, his mom is still sleeping, so he climbs up into her ...	My advice would be to get an au pair to assist with the childcare and household duties to give your wife a break. Also if your son isn't immediately concerned with nursing when he wakes up he may be more inclined to play in his room until you guys get up.
How to help my 8-year-old daughter cope with being unable to execute something new other than crying? My daughter will be turning 8 in a few days, and I have been unsuccessful in trying to get her to stop crying when she becomes frustrated. Examples are: She is currently in dance and takes 8 classes a week, which she...	Encourage her to try things that are outside of her comfort zone, and praise her for trying them. It's okay, as long as it's not interfering with their lives or activities - or their social life.
Is it common for a 3 month old baby to drool and suck their fingers? My son has just turned 3 months old. Recently I have observed him drooling and sucking his fingers. He usually drools more after feeding and sucks his fingers almost all the time. Is this common or abnormal behaviour? What might be the root caus...	Drooling is associated with basically everything for many babies, and sucking on fingers (or thumbs or other things) is also very normal.
Why is our three year old fixated on... 'Dark' things? Our daughter, since she was not quite two, has been fascinated with creepy crawly things. Spiders, snakes, etc. She has always liked dinosaurs a lot too. Over the last year though, she talks more and more about... Other things. I swear every other thing she says f...	It's also completely normal for a child to be fascinated with a new thing that they have been prepped for but not experienced. Please help her by limiting the flow of 'dark adult' stuff Dinosaurs are a staple of young kids.
What is the smarter way to position 3 carseats on my car? My oldest child uses a booster (Maxi-Cosi Rodifix), my middle child uses a carseat (Maxi-Cosi Priori) and once my third child is born he will be in an infant carrier (Maxi-Cosi Mico). I drive a 2011 Honda Pilot and it does fit all three carseats on one row. Fr...	If one parent sits with the baby, then put the car seat behind the passenger seat. From a practical sense, buckling a booster seat in the middle between two carseats can be challenging in some vehicles, and putting some carseat(s) in the backseat may be easier.
What age to teach a child about fairness? At what age do you or can you teach a kid about fairness? I helped my cousin watch after her 17 yr old and 11 yr old. I had to pick up the 17 yr old from softball practice. She hinted she wanted to get a tapioca drink so I took her to get one. I didn't think about getting t...	You can teach kids about fairness early on and it goes very well with establishing a position of control. Always be firm in your stance and clear about positive and negative consequences. In my opinion it would be only fit to negotiate an action that would recompense the younger kid but only after it settles down (scre...
Giving tea to infants I read on the internet that giving tea to infants can cause iron absorption problems, the problem is our infant of 9 months loves tea , as we gave her a sip when she demanded it and now she wants it whenever she sees a cup. Is it safe to give her tea? Note: Tea here is the typical Indian tea mad...	Each of our kids liked tea and coffee from an early age, though they seem less interested in it now, preferring hot chocolate.
Any dangers associated with learning piano too young? I have read: How do I motivate my 8-year-old to practice the piano regularly? How do you teach a toddler rhythm and melody? How do you determine when to start a child on music lessons without pressuring them? But I still don't have an answer. Are there any da...	The only danger I can think of is that if they are not mature enough yet to take on a musical instrument, they may develop a disdain for it and complete disregard lessons as being useful.
Is it common for a toddler boy to wiggle his fingers in front of his eyes? Our three-year-old son has a habit of wiggling his fingers in front of his eyes/face. Is this common for a toddler? I previously asked whether arranging toy cars in a line or crying when things are not in order is normal, and I gathered th...	While on their own, most of the concerns you have are normal for toddlers.
How to encourage the baby to learn to crawl? My 6,5 month daughter despises her tummy time. She has to be kept occupied all the time with toys while on her belly, otherwise she starts fussing and, very soon after that, crying. While playing with us, she has little need to crawl, since she's ok and busy where she is. Wh...	I know it's hard to have your daughter pitching a fit at tummy time, and all you want is to keep her happy and let her learn, but let her fuss. Crawling is a motor development skill that develops naturally on each child's own developmental time table. Don't push crawling very hard; she'll do it when she's ready, and th...
Is assisted crawling with an infant safe? I play with my daughter on a bed - we roll, tickle, "fly", laugh. I also started crawling with her. I'm not certain she enjoys it - she seems more intrigued than happy when we're doing this. She does not cry though, has no bruises or any other signs of being hurt or unhappy. I...	I can't speak to safe, but it's probably not very effective at encouraging crawling. The main thing you can do for encouraging that along is 'tummy time', to get him/her comfortable with being on tummy and to let the baby start doing some strength exercises (ie, pushing up). When babies do crawl, they really slam their...
How to change an active child's diaper? My 1 year old son is very active, and changing his diaper is increasingly difficult. I've seen temper-tantrums from some other children we know, but they usually stay put. My son arches, flips and actively tries to crawl away. These are things my wife and I have to do to get thin...	Start the diaper change with tickling or other positive physical stimulation, so I usually go up behind him, strip off the old one (they unfasten like a regular diaper or you can pull them down like pants), then let him step into the fresh one. Make sure the changing area is safe. Other things to think about are sensor...

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