Fathers of Preschoolers and School-Age Kids

Q: My wife and I have a child with a number of special needs. Although we both love our child very much, there’s no question that parenting him has taken a toll on our marriage and the rest of the family (we have other children). Interestingly, my wife and I respond to the stress very [Readmore]

Q: My child’s school often sends out emails asking for moms to volunteer in the classroom or around the school. A lot of these communications talk about how important it is for mothers to be involved in their children’s education. As a father, I find this a little annoying, and I’m wondering whether you know [Readmore]

Q: We are parents of two kids, 6 and 8, and our closest friends have kids the exact same ages. These friends swear that they can increase their children’s IQ by playing certain kinds of music. I think they’re full of it. But could they possibly be right? Does music actually increase a child’s intelligence? [Readmore]

Q: A few years ago our daughter was having trouble in school. On the advice of friends, we sent her to an all-girls school, where she has thrived. Now, our son is starting to have problems and we’re wondering whether an all-boys school would be good for him. Is single-sex education as good for boys [Readmore]

Q: I’ve got three kids. The middle one, who’s five, starts chattering the second she wakes up and doesn’t close her mouth until she’s asleep. On one hand, I love to hear her talk and have conversations about “Why this?” and “Why that?” But she’s exhausting me and I feel like my other children aren’t [Readmore]

Q: My wife and I discipline our children in very different ways. Oftentimes it leads to us arguing in front of the kids. What can we do to prevent this? As parents, how can we get on the same page with how to deal things that come up with our kids, good and bad? And [Readmore]

Q: In recent weeks, my six-year-old has suddenly become completely untrustworthy, lying, cheating, and stealing whenever she gets a chance. Yesterday we came home from the grocery store and I found that she had stolen some candy! I’m getting worried, not to mention the fact that I’m feeling like a bad parent. What can I [Readmore]

Q: I’d really like my 5-year-old son to start playing baseball in the Spring, but I wonder if it’s too soon. Our Little League allows children to start as young as 5, but his mother and I aren’t sure if he’s too young. How can I tell when to sign him up for sports? How [Readmore]

Q: My wife and I love to cook, and we go out of our way to make meals we think our kids will like – or at least eat! But time after time we find ourselves dumping untouched food into leftover containers, or worse, into the trash. Our children seem to eat nothing but macaroni [Readmore]

Q: My kids never help around the house unless I berate them into doing so. I know this is my fault as much as theirs, and it’s not a particularly effective parenting technique, but I want to turn it around. How can I get my kids to carry their weight without me having to hound [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: With all the talk about bird flu and swine flu I’m in a panic about germs. I’m putting antibacterial soaps all over my house and hand sanitizers in the car and my kids’ backpacks. Is there anything else I can do? A: The most important thing you can do right now is [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My 9-year old son has been complaining a lot recently about how much he hates school. We had a long talk about it and he completely stunned me when he told me that the principal of his school has paddled his behind several times. I know my son can be challenging sometimes, [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: In today’s tough economy, I think it’s important to teach kids about the importance of saving money. The problem is that my husband and I don’t agree on how to do that. I think we should give the kids (10 and 13) an allowance, but he’s taking a harder line and says [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: A few weeks ago, you wrote about how PTSD after deployment affects spouses in addition to servicemembers themselves. You talked a little about how it affects kids too. But what about families where PTSD isn’t an issue? My brother is in the Army and he and his wife are both being deployed [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My 8-year old boy loves to play soldiers with his friends using squirt guns. But I got a call from a mom saying that she wouldn’t let her son play with mine as long as we have guns in the house. I was speechless. Squirt guns? Really? What’s your take? A: You [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: Our son just turned 8 and my husband and I have been talking about how we’re going to pay for his college education. We really don’t have a plan. I say that we should take the money out of our retirement accounts, but my husband says we shouldn’t. We’re both feeling completely [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I’m really worried about my 9-year old daughter. She’s very smart and does well in school but lately she’s become obsessed with grades. A lot of her classmates have private tutors and she’s feeling more and more pressure from her teachers to study all the time. It’s gotten to the point where [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: Like most parents, I encourage my kids to tell me the truth and I always give them consequences for lying. The other day, just after I’d taken away my 9-year-old’s video game privileges for lying to me about having done his homework, I realized that I lie to my kids all the [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: Like a lot of people, I sometimes let my 8-year old play with my smart phone while I’m driving. I’ve got things set up so he can’t download any apps by himself, but he’s talked me into a getting a bunch for him. It just hit me the other day that I [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My 7-year-old has always been a little chunky, but recently, his doctor said he was obese. I don’t want him to go through what I did in school, and I don’t want him to develop the health problems that come from being obese either. What can I do to help him burn [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My daughter is five days old and today I had to go back to work. All day, I’ve felt an impending sadness that only gets worse. All I want is to be home with my family. I have to go to work and be responsible, but I can’t shake this horrible sadness. [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: Our 7-year old son has been diagnosed with a learning disability (specifically dyslexia). Some friends of ours with a child the same age have been telling us that our son’s condition might have been caused by vaccines he had. They also say that vaccines cause autism and worse. We asked our doctor [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: A few days after school started, my 9-year old son started coming home crying. I asked him what was wrong and he said, “Nothing.” But when he started refusing to go to school in the mornings, I pushed the issue and he broke down and told me he’s being bullied by an [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: School just started this week and already, our 10-year old son’s backpack is so heavy he can hardly lift it.  I see a lot of other kids with wheely packs—should we get one for him? A: Overloaded backpacks are responsible for an increasing amount of pain, injuries, and emergency room visits. National [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My wife and I have very different opinions about bribing our children. She wants to reward everything they do, from getting good grades at school to cleaning their rooms, with some sort of treat. This can be money, a special toy, or whatever. I say that the kids should learn that an [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My son is approaching the age where we need to have “the talk.” My dad died when I was young, so my own introduction was nothing more than what I could find in books or from friends. I want to give him some guidance but I feel totally confused and embarrassed. What’s [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I’m concerned about my mom. She’s in her mid 60s and her hearing has been getting worse and worse. She doesn’t participate in family discussions as much as she used to and she isn’t nearly as engaged with my children. I’ve suggested getting hearing aids but she refuses to–she says they’ll make [Readmore]

Q: I’ve got twins–a boy and a girl–and I find myself treating them differently. I know I shouldn’t. How can I keep myself from falling into stereotype traps and instead parent my children equally? A: Well, it’s not going to be easy; old habits are hard to break. But here are few steps that ought [Readmore]

Q:My five-year old is going to start school in the Fall. He’s all excited about the whole idea of Kindergarten, but I’m nervous. How can his mother and I help prepare him for this big change in his life? What can my wife and I do to prepare ourselves? A:The first day of school is [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My daughter is a really good kid, but she can’t seem to remember anything for more than five minutes. We constantly have to harp at her about things that should be habits, like brushing her teeth every morning. Is there something wrong with her? Why can’t she remember to do things like [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: This might sound silly, but is there some way to tell if my daughter is a genius? She’s only seven but I think she’s a lot smarter than I am. A: As parents, we’re always worried about how our kids are doing, and there’s no shortage of information on warning signs of [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My wife is Japanese, I’m white, and our daughter is biracial. When I’m out with her in public, strangers are constantly stopping me to ask what country we adopted her from. (Interestingly, my wife tells me this never happens to her.) I feel like wearing a button that says, “No, you jerk, [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My wife and I are thinking about keeping our five-year-old son out of kindergarten until he turns six. We have friends who’ve done the same thing and they say that it gave children a lot of advantages. But is it really a good idea? A: What you’re talking about here is called [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My seven-year old is very stressed. He’s constantly worried, can’t seem to focus in school, and almost always seems to be on edge. A friend suggested that we get our daughter to meditate. Sounds kind of kooky to me, but my friend insists that it’s a good thing. What do you think? [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My eight-year old daughter’s best friend—a girl she’s known since kindergarten—just moved out of the area. My daughter doesn’t make friends very easily—she’s always had a small number of pretty intense friendships—and she seems particularly devastated that this girl is leaving town. I’m worried about her. Is there anything I can do [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad. It seems like every other day there’s a scary story in the news about childhood obesity and diabetes and more. What I rarely hear about is what to actually do about it—aside from “eat less junk and do more exercise.” I don’t find that terribly helpful. Can you offer some specific ideas [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: We’ve always taught our kids to say “please,” “thank you,” “excuse me,” and the other basics. But where are the rules about texting and using cell phones and all those other things that didn’t even exist when our parents were teaching us how to be polite? A: Great question. Reminds me of [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad, I was changing my two year old daughter’s diaper after she’d come home from spending the day with her father (he and I are not together). She was touching herself and I told her to stop because her hands were dirty. She then said that “daddy touches me here.” I am completely [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My wife and I sometimes fight when our children, eight and ten, are present. We know we probably shouldn’t argue in front of them but things are sometimes so tense that we can’t stop ourselves (I recently lost my job and we’re facing possible foreclosure). How damaging is it to argue in [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: There’s something going on with our nine-year old son, but it’s hard to describe. We know that he’s very smart—he reads at a high-school level, does the most amazing math calculations in his head, and is a wonderful artist. But only at home. At school, his grades are horrible, he gets in [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My kids, 9 and 11, spend a fair amount of time with electronic games but my husband and I insist that they spend an equal amount of time reading. They both play outdoor sports (one does soccer, the other baseball), but no matter what we do, we just can’t get them to [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: When I was single, I hated it when noisy kids were allowed to run around in restaurants and spoil everyone’s meals. Now that my wife and I have two children, ages 4 and 6, we’d like to occasionally go out to eat with them, but we’re worried that they’ll do something to [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: Our 12-year-old refuses to do any chores. Anytime we ask him to help around the house, he always finds an excuse not to. Sometimes he even says he doesn’t feel like cleaning up after himself. My husband says we should ground him. What’s your take on this? A: I’ll confess right here [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad. This is a little touchy but here goes. I have two sons ages 11 and 9. My oldest seems overly shy when it comes to changing clothes in front of other guys. My golfing buddy (whose kids are the same age as mine) and I occasionally take our boys to the country [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: Recently, my wife’s father passed away after a very long illness. My son, who just turned six, seems to be taking it in stride, but I can tell that he really doesn’t understand what’s going on. How can I explain to him what happened to his grandfather in terms that he’ll understand? [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: As the school year draws to a close, I’m getting worried about my 9-year old daughter. She’s just an average student and really hates to do homework. I worry that she’ll forget a lot of what she learned over this past year and she’ll start fifth grade even further behind than she [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: Is it ever appropriate to discipline other people’s children? My 7-year-old daughter often invites one of her classmates to our home. I don’t mind, but this girl is a terror and does things (like jumping on furniture) that my child is not allowed to. I spoke to her mom about it but [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I have two kids from a previous marriage, ages 7 and 9. My new husband’s two children are almost the same age and spend every weekend and all holidays with us. Problem is, my kids and the step-kids don’t get along. In fact, it seems like they hate each other and they [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My four-year-old daughter gets bored incredibly quickly. She’ll do something for five or ten minutes and then she’s up and on to something else. I’m having trouble keeping her occupied, since we run out of activities in less than an hour. We had her screened for ADD and other conditions, but the [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: For the past few months my son, who is almost four, has been going through the “why” phase—constantly asking questions like, “Why is sky blue?” and “Why can’t dogs sing?” Most of the time I don’t know what to tell him or how to make him stop. Any advice? A: I’m sure [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My two children, 8 and 10, have never gotten along. They fight over the smallest things, so our house is a constant battleground. I’ve heard of sibling rivalry but this seems more serious. We’ve tried sitting them down and talking to them, time-outs, and such, but nothing ever changes. What can we [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My six-year-old son is behaving aggressively. Just yesterday, he was suspended from school for two days because he poked another child in the eye with a pencil. Fortunately, the other kid wasn’t seriously injured. And not long before that, he poked his sister (who’s ten) with a pair of scissors. I’ve tried [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My wife and I have become very concerned about our 11-year old son. He’s a perpetual underachiever in almost everything, from school to the ball field. We know that he can do better – he’s smart as a whip! How can we encourage him to do better? A: We all want our [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I’m getting a little worried that we’re putting too much pressure on my son to get involved in extracurricular activities. He plays soccer, is active in his Boy Scout troop, and does karate. Now there’s talk about art classes during the week, too. I know that extracurricular activities are good, but how [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My 11-year-old son sometimes watches the evening news with me and he seems genuinely disturbed by some of it. He keeps asking why all these bad things are happening. Frankly, my wife and I aren’t sure how to answer him or whether we should even allow him to keep watching at all. [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: A good friend of mine, Rich, is a single father of a 4-year old boy, Max. Before becoming a dad, Rich had never spent any time around kids, and he has no idea what to do. He’s very serious and says it just isn’t any fun getting down on Max’s level and [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: A Korean family has recently moved in next door and our 8-year-old son became friendly with their boy, who is the same age. However, he now says that he no longer wants to play with this child because he “looks funny.” How do we teach our son to look beyond the differences? [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: When I married my husband, my biological son was 5. My husband adopted him two years later. My husband is financially and spiritually supportive, but he doesn’t seem interested in playing or doing “dad” type stuff with our son. I would love for him to initiate catch, going to batting cages, or [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My wife thinks we should be brushing our 2-year old’s teeth every night. But the nights I put our daughter to bed, she refuses to let me brush her teeth. Is it really necessary at this age? Isn’t she going to lose these teeth in a few years anyway? A: The quick [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: Our son is only 10, but he is already extremely overweight. He loves food and we don’t want to deny him his favorite dishes, but we’re starting to get worried about his health. What should we do? A: You’re absolutely right to be concerned. Obesity in this country is a huge problem. [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: We can’t afford to send our two kids, 5 and 7, to Winter camp, so it’s going to be just me and them for the next two weeks. What are some activities I can plan with the kids so we can stay warm but not spend the whole day in front of [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: Our 9-year-old son is a habitual liar. He fibs even about the smallest, most insignificant things. But whenever we challenge him, he stands his ground and tries to convince us he’s telling the truth. What can we do? A: Before we get to the what-you-can-do part, we need to find out what’s [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My nine-year old son has no interest in practicing sports. He says he wants to play in games but cringes whenever I mention that he need to go to practices too. I’ve been frustrated at his lack of interest and want to encourage him, but I don’t want to turn him off [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My daughter and son-in-law are raising their 4-year-old child with no discipline or boundaries. The boy is a little brat, screaming and throwing temper tantrums whenever he doesn’t get what he wants. I’ve tried speaking to my daughter about this but she just laughs it off. What should I do? A: Oh, [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My 12-year-old daughter spent most of the summer at various camps and came back just before school started. While she was away she was allowed to stay up as late as she wanted. Now that she’s home she’s insisting that she’s old enough to stay up late. I’m sure that it’s unhealthy [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: We just got back from shopping and I noticed that my 7-year-old son had a small toy in his pocket. When I asked where he got it, he said he “took” it from the store. I can’t believe my child shoplifts—that is not how we raised him. What should I do? A: [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: Though my husband is only in his early forties, he recently suffered a heart attack. He’s back home now and the prognosis is good, but our children, ages 9 and 11, saw everything and are very worried about him. How do we reassure them that Dad is fine? A: Witnessing a parent’s [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: Like a lot of couples these days, my wife and I are going through some tough times. We argue about everything–but especially money. How can we work through these issues without stressing out the kids? A: As the economy continues to stagnate and families find themselves having to adjust to a very [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My 13-year-old son has difficulty making friends. He’s a little shy, but a nice kid. He says he’s as tried to talk to different boys at school, but claims no one likes him. How can I help? A: As parents, we all want our children to be popular and well-liked by their [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I’m traveling alone with my 3-month old daughter and my 4-year old son over Spring break. It’ll be a long flight and I’m already dreading it. How can I make it easier on myself, my kids, and the people around is? A: Air travel is already plenty stressful. Throw in two young [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My six-year-old son has suddenly begun cheating at games, at school, in sports—pretty much every chance he gets. This has come out of the blue. I can’t help feeling it’s a moral issue. How can I nip it in the bud? A: If you hadn’t told me your son’s age, I’d have [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My son is in middle school and comes home with stories about witnessing discrimination and hearing bigoted comments from other students. How can we keep him from picking up these attitudes himself? A: Now that the United States has just inaugurated our first African-American President (no, David and Wayne Palmer on the [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My wife and I have been talking a lot about the importance of setting limits for our two children, ages 5 and 7. We know we must do this but we aren’t sure how to go about it, especially since the kids continually challenge us on every new rule. But it’s so [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My son loves video games and spends a ton of time playing on them. Some are sports games, but others are fairly violent war-related games. I’ve heard the warnings about violent games breeding violent behavior, and I’m worried. Should I be? A: I certainly understand why you’re worried. Every time a new [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My wife and I have always been actively involved in worthwhile causes and regularly volunteer at an organization that helps disadvantaged people in our community. Our children are now eight and ten. Is it too early to teach them the importance of generosity, and how do we do it? A: Congrats to [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: Our kids are within the normal weight range for their age and height, but I’m the first to admit their eating habits are awful. I don’t want them to end up joining the epidemic of obesity. Should I be concerned? What should we do to be sure they avoid becoming overweight? A: [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I hear so much about the need for kids to have self-esteem and self-confidence, but I’m not sure how to go about instilling either one in my kids. They’re only four and six, so maybe it’s no big deal yet—but is there anything I can do now to raise confident kids? A: [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My seven-year-old is a happy, well-adjusted, intelligent boy, but he still wets the bed almost every night. How unusual is this? Should we have him tested to see if there’s a medical problem, or is there something we can do to help him overcome this on his own? A: Sporadic or continuous [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My ten-year-old son can’t seem to keep up with his homework. He often asks his mom and me for help, and we willingly provide guidance. But a few times, I think we’ve done most of the assignment for him, just to get him over the hump. Now he’s asking for even more [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My daughter turns ten next week and has made it known that she expects, needs, yearns for, and won’t be able to live without a cell phone. “Everybody has one,” she says. Is she too young? I’m not even sure I know what the issues are, but it seems like opening a [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My seven-year old’s birthday is coming up and he’s been asking for all the latest tech gadgets. Can’t kids these days have fun without electricity? Got any suggestions? A: I have to confess that I’m something of a gadget-loving techie. But I’m also tired of fancy electronic toys and games that get [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My son’s first grade teacher is recommending that he repeat the year rather than move on to second grade. She says he hasn’t mastered the academics, and that it’s better to hold him back now than later. I really don’t want to put him through that if it isn’t necessary. What should [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My kindergartener has begun swearing around the house when he’s frustrated or angry. I’m terrified that he’ll do it in front of his grandparents or at school. How can I nip this in the bud before it becomes a real problem? A: Just as most parents never forget their child’s first step [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: Our daughter will turn five this summer, just three weeks before the cutoff for kindergarten. If I send her to kindergarten this year, she’d be the youngest in her class. How do I know whether she’s actually ready? A: Welcome to the first of many life-and-death decisions about your child’s education! I’m [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I have a very curious four-year-old girl—always asking questions and exploring. I know kids often lose this curiosity as they get older. What’s the best way to help a child stay curious and engaged? A: There’s nothing like taking a walk with preschoolers. Every leaf and sidewalk crack seems to grab their [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: We’re planning our first big family road trip this summer, and I mean big! We’ve got three kids under seven. How can we keep them from going crazy and driving us nuts too? A: Ah, there’s nothing like the family road trip to bring out the worst in parent and child alike. [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I’d really like my 5-year-old son to start playing baseball in the Spring, but I wonder if it’s too soon? How can I tell when to sign him up for sports? How much do I push him? A: One of the great rites of fatherhood is passing on the love of a [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: Neither of my kids (6 and 3) has ever had to deal with death, but they have several older relatives who are very close to them. They will not live forever. How can I prepare my kids as well as possible for their first encounter with death? A: First, congratulations for recognizing [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: In recent weeks, my six-year-old has suddenly become completely untrustworthy, lying, cheating, and stealing whenever she gets a chance. Yesterday we came home from the grocery store and I found that she had stolen some candy! I’m getting worried. What can I do to nip this in the bud? A: The first [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My son is very athletic and he’d love nothing more than to play sports all day long. The problem is that it feels like we’re on the go every minute from the time school lets out until bedtime. I know how much he enjoys being part of the teams, but I’m wondering [Readmore]

Guest: Susan Marcus, author of The Missing Alphabet. Topic: Developing creative thinking in kids. Issues: The myth that some kids are born more creative than others; the impact of technology on creativity; the sensory alphabet (line, rhythm, space, movement, texture, color, shape, light, sound). Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Guest 1: Alexandra Anca, author of The Food Allergy Health and Diet Guide . Topic: Managing food allergies and intolerances by eliminating common allergens and gluten. Issues: Identifying the most common allergens; finding out for sure whether you have an allergy/intolerance; strategies for living with food allergies; preparing healthy, delicious allergen-free meals. Guest 2: David [Readmore]

Guest 1: Michael Starbird, coauthor of The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking. Topic: Not everyone is born a genius, but you can train your brain to think better. Issues: Learning to understand things more deeply; turning mistakes into insights; how answers can lead to questions; creating new ideas from old ones; how to promote effective [Readmore]

Guest 1: Kim Palacios, author of From Preschool to Grad School. Topic: Strategies for success at any level of competitive admissions. Issues:Three things all schoo0ls want; two questions you must be able to answer; crafting your story; the role of social media; application fraud and cheating; admissions consultants. Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Guest 1:Carol Tuttle, author of The Child Whisperer. Topic: The ultimate guide for raising happy, successful, cooperative children. Issues:Have a happier, more cooperative child using less discipline; repair troubled parent/teen relationships; know exactly how to best motivate your child; foster more natural confidence and success in your child. Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Guest 1: Ken Guilmartin, founder of Music Together, and author of Music Together. Topic: A research-based, developmentally appropriate childhood music program. Issues:All children can learn to sing in tune, keep a beat, and participate with confidence in the music of our culture, provided that their early environment supports such learning. Podcast: Play in new window [Readmore]

Guest 1: Deborah Roffman, author of Talk to Me First. Topic: Everything you need to know to become your kids’ “go-to” person about sex. Issues: Teach kids to view sexually-saturated media critically; how to become an approachable, askable resource for your children; how to foster ongoing conversations about difficult topics; put meaningful context around the [Readmore]

Guest 1: Mary Lamia, author of Emotions! Topic: Making sense of your feelings. Issues: Anxiety can improve creativity and productivity; guilt helps you maintain your relationships; showing pride in your accomplishments can help you socially; venting anger doesn’t help; overvaluing happiness can actually lead you to be less happy. Podcast: Play in new window | [Readmore]

Guest: Carrie Goldman, author of Bullied. Topic: What every parent, teacher, and kid needs to know about ending the cycle of fear. Issues: Eye-opening stats on the prevalence of bullying; the harmful effects of bullying on the brain; creating a home environment that produces neither bullies nor victims; why typical school anti-bullying/zero tolerance policies do [Readmore]

Guest 1: Heather Shumaker, author of It’s OK NOT to Share… Topic: Renegade rules for raising competent and compassionate kids. Issues: Completely counter-intuitive but scientifically sound suggestions such as, let kids hit and kick; let her hog that toy all day; bombs, guns, and bad guys allowed; love your kids lies, be buddies with dead [Readmore]

Guest 1: Jill Biden, author of Don’t Forget, God Bless Our Troops. Topic: The Second Lady of the US talks about being the mother of a deployed soldier and the effects of deployment on children. Guest 2: Sean Connolly, author of The Book of Perfectly Perilous Math. Topic: Death-defying challenges for young mathematicians. Issues: How [Readmore]

Guest 1: Kenneth Goldberg, author of The Homework Trap. Topic: How to save the sanity of parents, students, and teachers. Issues: The science behind homework difficulties; what homework looks like from the student’s perspective; understanding the reasons behind children’s homework problems; why the suggestions and solutions you’ve been offering may be doing more harm than [Readmore]

Guest 1: Mary O’Dohohue, author of When You Say ‘Thank You,’ Mean It. Topic: 12 lessons for instilling lifelong values in your children. Issues: A 12-month program (that’s easy to implement and actually works) for teaching values: gratitude, self-respect, respect for others, integrity, compassion, forgiveness, a sense of joy, commitment, lifelong learning, inner strength, spirituality, [Readmore]

Guest 1: Christie Mellor, author of Fun without Dick and Jane. Topic: A guide to a delightfully empty nest. Issues: Handling the initial adjustment period after the kids leave home; how to say “goodbye”; how to get your little darling to stay in touch—without begging; how to cope when he or she comes home for [Readmore]

Guest 1: Stephanie Lucianovic, author of Suffering Succotash. Topic: Why we hate the foods we hate. Issues: The science behind food preferences and aversions; how someone (the author) who lived on grilled cheese for years ended up graduating from culinary school and became a food writer how picky eaters can survive dinner parties and even [Readmore]

Guest 1: Dianne Goddard, coauthor of I Am Intelligent. Topic: A mother and daughter’s journey through autism. Issues: A heartbreaking—and inspiring—story of how a child who couldn’t speak or control her body and who was diagnosed as mentally retarded and severely autistic, was able to communicate electronically at age 22; what it’s like to be [Readmore]

Guest 1: Lesli Gee, coauthor of The Family ROI Experience. Topic: A step-by-step guide to realizing your best family. Issues: Helping families discover their power to realize their dreams; applying proven business principles to revitalize, focus, and strengthen families. Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Guest 1: John Graves, author of The 7% Solution. Topic: You can afford a comfortable retirement. Issues: Getting a clear understanding of you financial situation in retirement; gathering income and expense data; understanding what financial advisers do—and don’t do; the importance of bonds; borrowing from retirement accounts; structuring your retirement so you can earn up [Readmore]

Guest 1: Brian Sanders, president and COO, i9 Sports Topic: Keeping youth sports safe. Issues: Making youth sports fun and safe; reducing concussion risk. Guest 2: Karyn Hall, author of The Power of Validation. Topic: Arming your child against bullying, peer pressure, addiction, self-harm, and out-of –control emotions. Issues: Respond to your child’s internal experiences [Readmore]

Guest 1: Susan Stiffelman, author of Parenting without Power Struggles. strong>Topic: Raising joyful, resilient kids while staying cool, calm, and connected. Issues: Getting kids to do homework without meltdowns, threats, or bribes: how to have a drama-free morning where the kids actually get out the door in time for school; how to better manage the [Readmore]

Guest 1: Anat Baniel, author of

Guest 1: Don MacMannis, coauthor of How’s Your Family Really Doing? Topic: Ten keys to a happy, loving family. Issues: Understand the characteristics of healthy families and ways to bring out the best in each other; identify your family’s strengths and areas for improvement; facilitate conversations between yourself, your partner, your parents, and your children; [Readmore]

Guest 1: Don MacMannis, coauthor of How’s Your Family Really Doing? Topic: Ten keys to a happy, loving family. Issues: Understand the characteristics of healthy families and ways to bring out the best in each other; identify your family’s strengths and areas for improvement; facilitate conversations between yourself, your partner, your parents, and your children; [Readmore]

Guest 1: Fred Kaeser, author of Talking about Sex. Topic: Straight-talking info for parents. Issues: How our sexualized culture is making kids grow up too quickly; when to start basic conversations about sex (hint: a lot earlier than you think); tools for navigating uncomfortable topics. Guest 2: Eliot Mizrachi, director of Communications for the Entertainment [Readmore]

Guests: Diane Kennedy and Rebecca Banks, coauthors of Bright, Not Broken.Topic: Why kids with ADD and Autism are stuck and how we can help them. Issues: Some of our most brilliant kids won’t ever be recognized because they’re “twice exceptional” meaning that they’re gifted and diagnosed with a disability—usually ADHD or autism; keeping these children [Readmore]

Guest 1: Ada Calhoun, author of Instinctive Parenting. Topic: Trusting ourselves to raise good kids. Issues: There is no universal “best” way to parent; does it matter whether you start solids at four months or eight? Co-sleep or not? Whether you eat 100% organic all the time? Learning to tune out the “experts” and rely [Readmore]

Guest 1: Claudia Gold, author of Keeping Your Child in Mind. Topic: Overcoming defiance, tantrums, and other behavior problems by seeing the world through your child’s eyes. Issues: Learning to recognize your child as a person with feelings and teaching yourself to recognize what’s motivating your child to act the way he is instead of [Readmore]

Guest: Gever Tulley, author of of 50 Dangerous Things You Should Let Your Children Do. Topic: Teaching your children about safety by helping them learn to manage risk. Issues: Exciting ways for your children (and you) to explore the world around them; melting glass, walking a tightrope, tasting electricity, throwing things out of moving cars, [Readmore]

Guest 1: Debra Lynn Dadd, author of Toxic Free. Topic: How to protect your health and home from the chemicals that are making you sick. Issues: Understanding how toxic chemicals in ordinary consumer products affect health; what you’ll need to do to reduce your exposure right now; how to immediately start saving money on home [Readmore]

Guest: Amy McCready, author of If I Have to Tell You One More Time…

Guest 1: Joanna Dolgoff, author of Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right. Topic: No calorie counting, no dieting, no off-limits foods! Issues: No foods are off limits—in fact, occasional treats are essential; helping kids get the nutrients they need; understanding the obesity epidemic and its impact on children and families; sample menus, meal plans, and [Readmore]

Guest: Marina Koestler Ruben, author of Tutor Your Own Child. Topic: Boost grades and inspire a lifelong love of learning without paying for a professional tutor. Issues: Why tutor your own child? The mechanics of tutoring; creating a good learning environment at home; the upside and downside of technology; the parent-tutor lifestyle. Podcast: Play in [Readmore]

Guest: Jim Taylor, author of Your Children Are Listening. Topic: Nine messages your kids need to hear from you. Issues: Why the nine messages are so important; different ways children receive your messages; “message blockers” that can keep them from getting through; fun catchphrases and activities you can use to reinforce these messages every day. [Readmore]

Guest 1: Greg Wright, author of Daddy Dates. Topic: The road map for any dad to raise a strong and confident daughter. Issues: Understanding dad’s role in his daughter’s life; learning what makes your daughter tick; talking to her effectively; connecting more profoundly at any age. Guest 2: Kevin Renner, author of In Search of [Readmore]

Guest 1: Anne Crossman, author of Study Smart, Study Less . Topic: Earn better grades and higher test scores, learn study habits that get fast results, and discover your study persona. Issues: How to absorb info quickly; remembering it accurately; creating a successful study space; putting together a productive study group; using games to master [Readmore]

Guest: Anthony DeBenedet, coauthor of The Art of Roughhousing[. Topic: Good old-fashioned horseplay and why every kid needs it. Issues: Why physical play is important and how it benefits children; easy ways to get started; specific advice on roughhousing games that any dad or mom can do with kids of every age; safety issues. Podcast: [Readmore]

Guest 1: Eileen Kennedy-Moore, coauthor of Smart Parenting for Smart Kids. Topic: Nurturing your child’s true potential. Issues: How smart kids can overcome perfectionism, build connection, deal with authority figures, handle cooperation and competition, develop motivation, make the most of their abilities, and become capable, confident, caring people. Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Guest: Katrin Schumann, author of The Secret Power of Middle Children. Topic: How middleborns can harness their unexpected and remarkable abilities. Issues: What makes middle children different from their older and/or younger siblings; middle children in the workplace; middle children as parents; parenting a middle child; specific positive and negative traits associated with middle children. [Readmore]

Guest 1: Edward Dragan, author of The Bully Action Guide. Topic: How to help your child and get your school to listen. Issues: As many as half of children are bullied at some time in their lives; they various types of bullying (physical, mental, cyber); recognizing when your child is being bullied; how to discuss [Readmore]

Guest 1: Ken Denmead, author of Geek Dad. Topic: Cutting-edge games and awesome projects for the whole family. Issues: Understanding how something works by rebuilding it, tweaking it, and making it our own; building homemade robots; writing and directing your own action packed, stop-action movies; making every weekend a magical opportunity for discovery. Guest 2: [Readmore]

Guest 1: Adam Levin, CEO and founder of Credit.com and identitytheft911.com/ Topic: Credit cards and identity theft. Issues: Understanding—and protecting your credit score; how good—or bad—credit can influence your ability to get a job, rent an apartment, buy a house, and more; how to compare credit cards; helping your kids build credit; overcoming bad credit; [Readmore]

Guest: Jennifer Hallissy, coauthor of The Write Start. Topic: A guide to nurturing writing at every stage. Issues: Raising children who love to write; the importance of writing in future academic success; how to teach your child about writing—from how to hold a pencil and form letters to creating writing spaces and home rituals. Podcast: [Readmore]

Guest 1: Ann Dolin, author of Homework Made Simple. Topic: Tips, tools, and solutions for stress-free homework. Issues: How parenting styles affect homework; everyday challenges and concerns (the procrastinator, the avoider, the easily frustrated, and others); improving study skills. Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Guest 1: David Anderegg, author of Nerds. Topic: Who nerds are and why we need more of them. Issues: How kids become nerds and what happens to their identities when they do; how antinerd sentiment affects children, undermines their academic performance, and ultimately jeopardizes American economic competitiveness. Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Guest 1: Po Bronson, co-author of NurtureShock. Topic: New thinking about children. Issues: Why just about everything you think you know about parenting could be wrong; why the most brutal person in a child’s life is often a sibling; when is it too soon—or too late—to teach a child about race; why reading to your [Readmore]

Guest 1: Judy Molland, author of Get Out! Topic: Easy ways for kids and adults to get into nature and build a greener future. Issues: The importance of getting outside; why today’s kids are spending less time outside than we did as kids, why looking out for the environment is good for all of us. [Readmore]

Guest 1: Rushworth Kidder, author of Good Kids, Tough Choices. Topic: How parents can help their children do the right thing. Issues: Raising kids in today’s moral environment; teaching responsibility; resolving ethical dilemmas (including right vs. right choices, which are a lot harder to deal with than traditional right vs. wrong). Guest 2: Dathan Paterno, [Readmore]

Guest 1: Joe Bruzzese, author of A Parents’ Guide to the Middle School Years. Topic: Guiding your child’s transition into adolescence. Issues: How will you handle the inevitable adolescent crises? Balancing a child’s growing need for independence with genuine concern for his or her physical or emotional safety; the many challenges faced by today’s middle [Readmore]

Guest for both segments: Richard Gentry, author of Raising Confident Readers. Topic: How to teach your child to read and write—from baby to age 7. Issues: How a child’s brain learns to read—and why encouraging drawing and scribbling is as essential as reading aloud; best at-home activities to develop early literacy; strategies for overcoming dyslexia [Readmore]

Guest for both segments: Betsy Braun Brown, author of You’re Not the Boss of Me. Topic: Brat-proofing your four- to twelve-year-old child. Issues: What causes bratty behavior; is your child a brat, or just trying to grow up in a world filled with temptations and distractions; helping kids get over the “gimmies;” helping kids learn [Readmore]

Guest 1: Lenore Skenazy, author of Free Range Kids. Topic: How to raise safe, self-reliant children. Issues: The difference between safety and smothering; how to stop worrying about one-in-a-million dangers and start letting kids enjoy the adventures of childhood; “worldproofing” children so they can be safe even when we’re not right there next to them. [Readmore]

Guest 1: Len Saunders, author of Keeping Kids Fit. Topic: A family plan for raising active, healthy children. Issues: Fitness activities the whole family can enjoy; the positive effects of competition; strategies for busting the video game habit; tips on kid-healthy eating. Guest 2: Carol Kranowitz and Joye Newman, coauthors of Growing an In-Sync Child. [Readmore]

Guest 1: Linda Nahan, author of The Hardest Questions Aren’t on the Test. Topic: Lessons from an innovative urban school. Issues: In the average urban school district, 50 percent of high schoolers graduate and go on to college—but at Boston Arts Academy, 94 percent of grades are accepted to college; how and why does a [Readmore]

Richard Morris, coauthor of Kids, Wealth, and Consequences. Topic: Ensuring a responsible financial future for the next generation. Issues: How parents can impart to their children the skills they need for successful, happy lives; financial management and estate planning for wealthy parents. Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Tom Farrey, author of Game On. Topic: How the pressure to win at all costs endangers youth sports. Issues: Why winning isn’t nearly as important to kids as it is to parents; the real reasons kids like sports; how overbearing parents can ruin a child’s interest in sports; the importance of just getting out there [Readmore]

Guest 1: David Swanson, author of Help—My Kid Is Driving Me Crazy. Topic: How kids manipulate their parents. Issues: Why kids manipulate; Learning to recognize 17 distinct types of manipulate and what you need to do to disarm them. Guest 2: Diana Peters Meyer, author of Overcoming School Anxiety. Topic: Getting kids ready for school. [Readmore]

Guest 1: Barbara Nicholson, author of Attached at the Heart. Topic: Proven parenting principles for raising connected and compassionate children Issues: Strategies to strengthen your emotional bond with your child; how to be a more conscious parent; how raising children with empathy and respect and improve society as a whole. Guest 2: Jennifer Kolari, author [Readmore]

Guest 1: Joyce Cooper-Kahn, coauthor of Late, Lost, and Unprepared. Topic: Helping children with executive functioning Issues: What is executive functioning? Impact of a child’s executive issues on the rest of the family; assessments; changing your child’s behavior; helping children create plans, organize, and monitor their own behavior. Guest 2: Richard Guare, coauthor or Smart [Readmore]

Guest 1: Jessica Baron Turner, MA, author of Your Musical Child. Topic: Inspiring kids to play and sing for keeps Issues: What makes a child fall in love with learning to play Music? How does talent develop? When is the right time to start lessons? Which instrument is the best fit? Why is practice so [Readmore]

12/7/08 Guest 1: Bernie Schein, author of If Holden Caulfield Were in My Classroom. Topic: Inspiring love, creativity, and intelligence in middle school kids. Issues: What is No Child Left Behind and what does it mean to your family? Helping your child deal with peer pressure; helping middle schoolers tap into their emotions and realize [Readmore]

Guest 1: Joe McIlhaney, Jr., coauthor of Hooked. Topic: New science on how casual sex is affecting our children. Issues: Chemicals released in the brain during sex can become addictive; the human brain isn’t fully developed until mid-twenties—until then, it’s harder to make wise relationship decisions; how to steer young people away from making life-changing [Readmore]

Guest 1: Dorothy Dougherty, author of Teach Me to Say it Right. Topic: Helping children with articulation and speech problems. Issues: Understanding the difference between actual speech-related problems and issues that the child will outgrow; how childhood speech problems affect schoolwork and future successes, when and how to get professional help. Guest 2: Edward Hallowell, [Readmore]

Guest 1: Beth Grosshans, author of Beyond Time-Out. Topic: Moving from chaos to calm. Issues: Why our emphasis on talking and self-esteem is responsible for parental ineffectiveness and children’s unruliness; looking at the imbalance of power in families (where kids have too much and the parents not enough); the parenting styles that most commonly lead [Readmore]

Guest 1: Ronald Mah, author of Difficult Behavior in Early Childhood. Topic: Positive Discipline for preK – third grade and beyond. Issues: Reconciling different behavioral expectations of families and schools; applying timeout effectively; motivating children immediately and powerfully; identifying early signs of depression, anxiety, and special needs. Guest 2: Hal Runkel, author of ScreamFree Parenting. [Readmore]

Guest 1: Lisa Boesky, author of When to Worry. Topic: How to tell if your teen needs help and what to do about it. Issues: How to spot the warning signs of serious problems like depression, cutting, bipolar disorder, and drug abuse; specific dos and don’ts for decreasing teen struggles and suffering in the family; [Readmore]

Guest 1: John Davis, author of Extreme Pursuit. Topic: Winning the race for the heart of your son. Issues: Teen boys are driven by design to be extraordinary, to build and make an impact on their world. But left unchecked, this intensity can fuel destructive behavior. When our teens are slipping away, how do we [Readmore]

Guest 1: Dale McGowan, editor of Parenting Beyond Belief. Topic: Raising ethical caring kids without religion. Issues: Millions of non-religions parents are raising children in the U.S. Many have questions, such as How do we raise our children to think for themselves? Can we avoid religious indoctrination without turning children against religion? Guest 2: Libby [Readmore]

Guest 1: Jeffrey Bernstein, author of 10 Days to a Less Distracted Child. Topic: A new approach that gets kids to listen, learn, focus, and behave. Issues: Understanding why your child gets distracted; getting kids to listen without raising your voice; overcome ADHD and learning disabilities; improve focus and organization at school Guest 2: Stanton [Readmore]

Guest 1: Frank Lawlis, author of Mending the Broken Bond. Topic: Developing a loving relationship with your child in 90 days. Issues: Being the role model your child needs you to be; using empathy to resolve problems; learning when and how to forgive; channeling your child’s energy through diet, breathing exercises, and calming activities Guest [Readmore]

Guest 1: Lorna Ann Knox, author of Scary News. Topic: How to raise joyful children when the headlines are full of fear. Issues: Learning to be more aware of media messages; understanding how children process and react to news; helping children deal with their fears that what’s happening in the news will happen to them. [Readmore]

Guest 1: Rosalind Wiseman, author of Queen Bee Moms & Kingpin Dads. Topic: Dealing with the parents, teachers, coacher, and counselors who can make or break your child’s future. Issues: How unspoken assumptions about race, religion, etc, sabotage parents’ ability to work together; strategies for dealing with parents who are hostile and unsupportive of your [Readmore]

Guest 1: Robert Shechet, Chief Dental Officer for HealthNet. Topic: The importance of taking good care of children’s teeth. Issues: The real causes of tooth decay; why cavities are more common then just 10 years ago; the right way to brush children’s teeth; the right age a child should go to the dentist the first [Readmore]

Guest 1: Jill Stamm, author of Bright From the Start. Topic: A simple, science-based way to nurture your child’s developing mind from birth – age 3. Issues: Why Baby Einstein might do more harm than good for your child; understanding how your baby’s brain develops; a look at research that shows that your child’s needs [Readmore]

Guest 1: Danielle Wood, director of editorial for www.Education.com. Topic: A great resource for parents who want to stay on top of their children’s education. Issues: Articles, resources, and activities on hundreds of Topics that can help parents make learning more fun. Guest 2: Judy Molland, author of Straight Talk About Schools Today. Topic: Understanding [Readmore]

Guest 1: Nick Dubin, author of Asperger’s Syndrome and Bullying. Topic: Strategies and solutions for kids with Asperger’s Syndrome and their parents. Issues: Almost all children with Asperger’s are victimized by bullies between the ages of 11 and 19; the traits that make children with Asperger’s particularly susceptible to bullying; teaching children how to tell [Readmore]

Guest 1: Dr. William Lewis, Ear, Nose, and Throat surgeon at Children’s Hospital in Oakland, CA. Topic: How sleep-disordered breathing affects children’s behavior and school performance. Issues: Children with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) miss more school, are more restless and inattentive, and are more likely to be chronically tired and obese; enlarged tonsils are frequently the [Readmore]

Guest 1: Christopher Kearney, author of Getting Your Child to Say “Yes” to School. Topic: Helping a child with School Refusal Behavior (SRB). Issues: Defining SRB (it’s a difficulty attending school or remaining in class for an entire day; how SRB differs from truancy or school phobia; recognizing the signs and symptoms of SRB; working [Readmore]

Guest 1: David Ludwig, author of Ending the Foodfight. Topic: Guiding your child to a healthy weight in a fast-food/fake-food world. Issues: The truth about why most diets fail; why a low-glycemic diet is the key to any long-term weight management program; includes recipes and shopping lists. Guest 2: Lisa Druxman, author of Lean Mommy. [Readmore]

Guest 1: Vicky Levy Krupp, coauthor of The Kids’ Book Club Book. Topic: How to organize a great kids’ book club. Issues: Based on surveys from over 500 book clubs, parents, librarians, and educators, here are the best reading ideas, recipes, activities, and tips. Guest 2: Peggy Collins, author of Help is NOT a Four-Letter [Readmore]

Guest 1: Catherine Montgomery, founder of The American Institute of Stuttering. Topic: Early therapeutic intervention is effective for children who stutter. Issues: New findings on stuttering; what kind of help is out there for children; as widespread as stuttering is (1 in 30), it is extremely misunderstood. Guest 2: Ms. Chriss Winston, author of How [Readmore]

Guest 1: Brenda Nixon, author of Parenting Power in the Early Years. Topic: Raising your child with confidence birth to age five. Issues: Practical childcare tips for new parents Guest 2: Ron Fairchild, Executive Director, Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University. Topic: How to stop the summer brain drain. Issues: School stops for [Readmore]

Guest 1: Ellen Currey-Wilson, author of The Big Turnoff. /span> Topic: Confessions of a TV-addicted mom trying to raise a TV-free kid. Issues: Good reasons to try to get TV viewing under control; the effect of banning TV on relationships with family and friends; keeping up with popular culture without TV; the differences between TV [Readmore]

Guest 1: Michelle Keener, author of Shared Courage. Topic: A Marine wife’s story of strength and service. Issues: The effects of war on those who stay at home; how military spouses deal with deployment and the constant fear of losing a loved one; finding a support network; helping kids cope with their fears about the [Readmore]

Guest 1: Robert Dietz, M.D. an allergist and spokesman for the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Topic: Asthma and allergies. Issues: the increase in children suffering from asthma and allergies; treatment options; free asthma screenings nationwide. Guest 2: Kenneth Bock, M.D., author of Healing the New Childhood Epidemics. Topic: ADD and autism. Issues: [Readmore]

Guest 1: Missy Chase Lapine, author of The Sneaky Chef. Topic: Simple strategies for hiding healthy foods in kids’ favorite meals. Issues: Outsmarting even the pickiest eaters; rescuing dinner from becoming a battlefield; 13 ways to get nutrition into foods that kids already love. Guest 2: Regan McMahon, author of Revolution in the Bleachers. Topic: [Readmore]