Fathers of Toddlers

Q: My year-old child has begun to climb out of the crib at night. I am concerned she will get into something and hurt herself. I worry so much about her at night, I can’t sleep. How do I keep her safe? A: Start by thinking about her environment in larger and larger circles, from [Readmore]

Q: My wife and I-like most couples-have our share of disagreements on how to parent. One of the things we’ve been disagreeing on lately is whether or not it’s okay to fight in front of the kids. I think it will teach our children how to compromise. My wife thinks it will scar them for [Readmore]

Q: I’ve been hearing a lot about teaching children sign language. What’s the deal? Supposedly baby signing teaches the child to communicate – but can’t my child communicate in other ways? Is teaching my baby to communicate while she is so young pushing her too hard? Is it worth doing or is it some kind [Readmore]

Q: My husband recently bought a computer for our 18-month old daughter. I think he’s nuts, but he says that it’s never too early to get kids computer literate. I’m concerned that pushing computer literacy at this age will put too much pressure on our child, making her feel like she has to be an [Readmore]

Q: My wife wants to have another child, but I’m not sure I’m ready. The first one keeps us so busy already that we barely have time for the both of us. I love being a father, and my wife loves being a mother, but I feel like that is our only identity – parents. [Readmore]

Q: My three-year-old daughter has an imaginary friend named Maggie. She talks to her all the time, draws with her, and “reads” her favorite books to her. I even have to set an extra place at the dinner table for Maggie or my daughter won’t eat. Is this okay or should I be concerned about [Readmore]

Q: My three-year-old is a real handful at times. My wife and I have struggled to find the right approach to disciplining our spirited toddler. There are so many different parenting approaches out there, and as his mom and dad, we want the best for our child. We just don’t know which discipline approach to [Readmore]

Q: Ever since our baby was born, it seems like my wife and I are growing apart from each other. We hardly even talk anymore. She’s a stay-at-home mom, and I work a lot. We used to be great at communication, talking to each other about our days, discussing our child and what she is [Readmore]

Q: I’m a stay-at-home dad, and I’m worried that my daughter will get bored at home with me and with the same toys. I want to be a great father – make sure my child is stimulated and learning new things, and is enjoying her surroundings. What do I do? A: Wow, what a great [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 wife and I have twin daughters, and are now expecting our third child–another daughter. I feel terrible about thinking this way, but when we found out the new arrival was going to be another girl, I was disappointed. It’s as though having a third daughter reduces my value as a man [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: I’m a stay at home father, have been for about two years, and really like it. But I’ve been feeling guilty. My wife works long hours and attends school while I do only about six hours of chores (throughout the day, not all at once). She says she’s perfectly fine with me [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: 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: 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: I thought I was doing the right thing by slathering my 1-year old with sunscreen when we go outside, but I just read that the chemicals in sunscreen could be more harmful than the sun. Now what are we supposed to do? A: Summer is winding down, but there are still plenty [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My toddler used to eat pretty much everything. But recently she’s become incredibly. It’s gotten so bad that I can’t get her to eat anything but mac and cheese, noodles, and rice. Is there anything I can do to get her back to a healthier diet? A: What you’re describing is a [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My son loves his pacifier, but he’s almost three and my wife says it’s time for him to give it up. But when I try to take it away he doesn’t sleep and cries hysterically. What’s wrong with a pacifier? A: The day-to-day life of a toddler can be a lot more [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My daughter’s mom and I are divorced and we share custody. But sometimes my 2-year old daughter doesn’t want to come with me. Or, if she does, when she gets upset she wants her mommy. What can I do to help her enjoy our time together? A: First, as with so many [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I’m in charge of installing our 16-month old daughter’s car seat and my wife says I need to turn it around to rear-facing again because there’s a new regulation. But my daughter loves looking forward. Is it really necessary to make her face rear again? A: Your wife is referring to the [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I’ve heard drowning is a big risk for kids, especially toddlers. Now that it’s summer, should I sign my baby up for swim lessons? If so, what age is appropriate to start? A: Whoever told you that drowning is a big risk is exactly right. In fact, drowning is a leading cause [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: My daughter, who is 3 ½, is still in her “NO!” phase. Anything I tell her to do, she categorically refuses. I was prepared for the “terrible two’s”, but thought she would have outgrown them by now. Is there anything I can do? A: No, no, no! Just kidding. There are plenty [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: Ever since my son was born, three years ago, I have been a stay-at-home mom. Now, I have to go back to work to supplement our income. I found a good daycare facility for him, but, I am really worried that my son will resent me and that this will somehow affect [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I need a man’s advice but am too embarrassed to ask my own father, family, or male friends. I’ve been married about two years now and have a 9-month old baby. The problem is that my sexual relationship with my husband is basically non-existent. I feel sad and lonely and I have [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I love spending quality time with my two-year-old, but occasionally he throws a tantrum that seems to come right out of the blue. It embarrasses me in public and frustrates me at home. How should I respond to his unreasonable anger? A: Welcome to the wonderful world of toddlers (sometimes known as [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My mom watches my 3-year-old son while I work part-time. I appreciate her help but it bothers me that she spanks him when he misbehaves or disobeys. I’ve been meaning to speak with her about this, but have been holding off because I can’t afford to hire a babysitter and I don’t [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: We just moved our two- and- a-half-year-old daughter from a crib to a bed. She seemed excited about her new “big girl” bed at the store, but now that it’s set up in her room, she refuses to sleep in it. What’s going on, and what can we do? A: To a [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I work pretty long hours and love playing with my 2-year old daughter as much as I can. But whenever she gets hurt or upset, she screams for her mommy. I know she’s not deliberately trying to hurt my feelings, but it still stings. Is there some way I can comfort her [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My son seems to have no interest in potty training. He’s almost 3 and many kids in his pre-school already use the potty. My wife says we shouldn’t push him, but I don’t want him to be the only one left in diapers. What’s the right age to start potty training and [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My 2 ½ year old son has recently started running away from me whenever we leave the house. Sometimes I have to sprint to catch him. It’s really frightening and I’m afraid to look away even for a second. Why is he doing this and how can I stop him? A: First, [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My 16-month old daughter still wakes up at least three or four times every night. My husband and I take turns getting up with her but we’re exhausted and fed-up. How can we get her to sleep through the night? A: Welcome to the wonderful nighttime world of toddlers, all of whom [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My wife and I decided that we want one parent at home with our child full time—at least until he starts preschool. Since she earns more than I do, it looks like I’ll be a stay-at-home dad. What am I in for? A: Deciding to be a stay-at-home dad is a big [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I really want a dog but my wife doesn’t think it’s safe with our 2-year old daughter. Is she right? Aren’t there some benefits as well? A: A dog could make a great addition to your family, but you and your wife are both right: there are some risks and rewards. Some [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My 18-month old son is suddenly obsessed with TV. He watches at least 3-4 hours per day. My wife doesn’t see the problem since it allows her to get stuff done around the house, but I’m worried. How much TV is too much? A: Great question—one you have every right to be [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I feel like when I spend time with my 2-year old, I’m constantly telling him “no!” Is there some way I can enforce boundaries without being so negative? A: It’s no wonder that one of the first words kids learn to say is, No. After all, it’s the word they hear the [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I can’t help but notice that some of the kids at my daughter’s daycare are way more verbal than she is. We read to her all the time and we’re a chatty family so what gives? Are these parents doing something we’re not? A: First things first: not all children develop language [Readmore]

Dear M. Dad: When my baby was born my wife and I spent a lot of time and energy babyproofing the house. Our child made it through infancy, but now that he’s a toddler, he’s getting into everything and we realize that we missed some key safety measures. Is there such a thing as toddlerproofing [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My son turned one a few weeks ago and it’s been months since my wife and I have had even an hour to ourselves. She makes abstract plans (“We’ll do something this weekend”) but they never happen—she always comes up with some kind of excuse. I’ve complained, but that just upsets her. [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My four-year old daughter often climbs into bed with me and my wife in the middle of the night, claiming to be scared of a tiger, crocodile, or something else. She also seems to be generally afraid of the dark. There’s a night light in her room and we never read scary [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 three-year-old son prefers his mom over me! I work full time and my wife is a stay-at-home mom. How can I get him to spend time with me without feeling that I’m competing with Mom? A: Well, you’ve already taken the first two steps: Recognizing that there’s something you want to [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: Our three-year-old son is jealous of his new baby brother. My wife and I did our best to prepare him for the baby’s arrival, and initially, he seemed happy about having a sibling to play with. But now, he seems to be angry with us and aggressive toward the baby, throwing tantrums [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My toddler (17 months old) has been biting his three-year-old sister at home for the past week or so. Now I’ve learned from his daycare provider that he’s biting other children there as well. She’s not happy about that, of course, and I’m worried they’ll kick him out. I’ve tried lecturing him [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I’ve been reading more and more that baby bottles and sippy cups are made from harmful plastics. How do I know which ones are safe? A: You’ve probably been hearing about bisphenol A (BPA), which has been making headlines lately. Even if you haven’t heard of it’, it’s all over your house—besides [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My two-year-old is a terror on a playdate! He seems completely incapable of sharing toys and even grabs toys out of the hands of his little friends. I spend half of my time apologizing for him to other moms and dads. What can I do? What a great question—reminds me of a [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My three-year-old daughter insists that I play dolls with her. Maybe it’s the way I was brought up, but I just can’t bring myself to do it—seems too girly for me. My wife says my playing with our daughter will help her in the future. Is that true? And if so, do [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: 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. They seem to eat nothing but macaroni and [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I know that spanking is politically incorrect these days, but I don’t want kids who are out of control. Is on occasional whack all that bad? If so, what are the alternatives? A: At one time or another, every parent has been in a situation where the temptation to spank was strong. [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: I’ve heard varying expert opinions about children under age two watching television and have become confused as to what is best for my child. I usually have my 15 month old daughter watch TV while I shower and get a few things done around the house, or sometimes we watch baby programming [Readmore]

Dear Mr. Dad: My husband loves to watch Big Cats Diary (about cheetahs, lions and leopards in Africa) and similar clips on YouTube. He often shows our three-year old daughter TV and videos that contain chase and kill scenes. The other day they watched a 9-minute video of a killing scene involving a buffalo calf, [Readmore]

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: 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 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: 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: Steve Hodges, coauthor of It’s No Accident. Topic: Breakthrough solutions to your child’s wetting, constipation, urinary tract infections, and other potty problems. Issues: 30 percent of kids 2-10 are chronically constipated and 25 percent of 5-year olds have problems with accidents and bedwetting; how it is that most bed-wetting problems are actually the [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: Jennifer Hoekstra, Safe Kids Program Coordinator at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI Topic: Two recent studies showing an increasing in emergency room visits among children. Issues: Dangers of button batteries; making sure your batteries are out of the way; why swallowing batteries is so dangerous; dangers [Readmore]

Guest: Arthur Bradley, author of Handbook to Practical Disaster Preparedness for the Family. Topic: How and why to create a preparedness plan for your family. Issues: Food, water, shelter, light, electrical power, heating/cooling, air, sleep, hygiene/sanitation, medical/first aid, communications, financial preparedness, transportation, and protection. 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: 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: 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]

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 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: 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: 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: 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: Michael Goldberg, author of The Myth of Autism. Topic: How a misunderstood epidemic is destroying our children. Issues: The epidemic of autism—we’ve gone from 1 in 5,000 to 1 in 110 in just 30 years; autism is not a psychological or developmental condition—it’s actually a medical disease that attacks the brain’s immune system, [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: 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: 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 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 1: Jennifer Gunter, author of The Preemie Primer. Topic: A complete guide for parents of premature babies–from birth through the toddler years and beyond. Issues: What is a preemie? Factors that increase the chances of having a preemie; how a premature birth affects the couple relationship; taking care of your emotional health; coping with [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: Isabel Granic, author of Bedtiming. Topic: The parent’s guide to getting your child to sleep at just the right age. Issues: Proven strategies for helping your child sleep through the night; why popular techniques fail when used at the wrong times; how to solve sleep setbacks and set nap schedules. Guest 2: Cara [Readmore]

Guest 1: Bob Halzleton, author of Dads Matter. Topic: Principles, lessons, and stories on the remarkable impact of fathers Issues: Being there physically and emotionally; communication; small stuff matters; how to live, know, and teach them, coping with hearbreak and death. Guest 2: Harriet Ziefert, creator of Begin Smart Books. Topic:The tremendous benefits of reading [Readmore]

Guest for both segments: Lise Eliot, author of Pink Brain, Blue Brain. Topic: How small differences grow into troublesome gaps — and what we can do about it Issues: Debunking the myths about gender differences; how the brains of boys and girls are largely shaped by how they spend their time as opposed to physical [Readmore]

Guest 1: Dawn Davenport, author of The Complete Book of International Adoption. Topic: A step-by-step guide to finding your child Issues: Choosing a country and agency; organizing the paperwork; finding the money; evaluating health Issues; traveling to adopt; adjusting to the first months at home Guest 2: Dimitri Christakis, author of The Elephant in the [Readmore]

Guest 1: Barbara Probst, author of When the Labels Don’t Fit. Topic: A new approach to raising a challenging child. Issues: Discovering your child’s essential nature and temperament; respecting your child’s inner world; changing the way you think, talk, and respond; knowing when and how to help; taking care of yourself. Guest 2: Karen Pavlicin, [Readmore]

Guest 1: Preston Smith, author of The Potty Trainer. Topic: The ultimate guide to potty training your child. Issues: When to start potty training; how to do it; the importance of parents staying engaged in the process; the increasing number of post-potty-training issues such as bedwetting, daytime accidents, etc; when a toilet-related issue warrants a [Readmore]

Guest 1: Michelle Nicholasen and Barbara O’Neal, authors of I Brake for Meltdowns. Topic: How to handle your 2-5-year old’s most exasperating behavior. Issues: when your child won’t play with others, hug or kiss a relative, can’t share, or constantly interrupts; kids who can’t (or won’t) sleep by themselves; picky eaters; surviving family travel, and [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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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]