Every parent of an acting-out child knows that once your kid has a reputation for being a troublemaker at school, it's very difficult to undo that label. That's because your child becomes the label. When the teacher looks at your child, the teacher often just sees a troublemaker. Sadly, it's hard to change that image... Read more »
If you’re the parent of a defiant child, you’ve probably wondered what makes him so angry at life—and angry at you. With the school year approaching, are you gearing up for another difficult year with your child, just hoping that he’ll make it through—and that you’ll be able to manage without falling apart? Realize that... Read more »
If you listen to the news or read the paper, you know that more and more kids are living at home for longer periods of time. We often hear from parents of adult children who want to know how they can set guidelines down with their older kids, and when they should ask them to leave. If... Read more »
Does your child’s behavior become more obnoxious, demanding and “smart-alecky” when he has an audience? Some kids just seem to “step up the show” as soon as their friends come over. You’ll see this happening with both kids who are occasionally out of line, and those who are obnoxious chronically. Chronically obnoxious kids often have... Read more »
Is your child’s answer to everything, “I don’t care” or “It doesn’t matter?” Parents often think that if they can find a new way to encourage their child, he or she will magically start achieving more. I don't think it's like that at all. I think the problem is that these kids are motivated to... Read more »
Have you ever listened to parenting advice, all the while thinking, "That won't work with my child—nothing does. He's too difficult; no one can get through to him"? If you've ever felt this way, stop what you're doing and read this article. We sat down and talked to James Lehman, who explains how to get... Read more »
I can't tell you how many times I've heard parents say that their children respond to consequences by yelling “I DON’T CARE!” Nothing seems to bother these kids, or so it seems -- not even losing their cell phone, T.V. time, or having an earlier bedtime. My goal in this article is to prove to all... Read more »
If yelling worked, parenting would be easy, wouldn't it? We'd simply shout, "Do it!" and our kids would comply. But here's the truth: yelling doesn't work. I tell parents that if screaming at our kids was effective, I'd be out of business. You'd just be able to yell at your child, and he'd change. Or... Read more »
This week, read about an oppositional, defiant teen in James Lehman's compelling book, Transform Your Problem Child. Meet the parents and family of Caleb, who have been dealing with their son's behavior since he was a young child, and "raising their tolerance for deviance" with each instance of acting out. When Caleb gets physically abusive,... Read more »
Parents often wonder how much privacy their children need and ask me if it's okay to violate it. Personally, I believe there should be a direct link between the amount of responsibility, consistency, and honesty that kids show and the amount of privacy they're allowed to have. But, before we get to the subject of... Read more »