Love and attention and cell phones
I'll never forget sitting at Fairway Cafe in New York early one Saturday morning. As I waited for my breakfast to arrive, I watched a sad scene play out at a table nearby. A Dad [...]
Teach Children How to Say, “No!” Before Puberty
It’s essential that children learn and trust they have absolute agency over their bodies – no matter who is seeking their affection. Adults sometimes see one toddler hugging another and think, “Oh, isn’t that sweet!” but not [...]
Are you expecting too much of your toddler?
A parent recently asked me, ”How do I know if I’m expecting too much of my toddler?” My answer was, “If your toddler consistently fails to meet your expectations, she’s demonstrating that she’s not developmentally [...]
Children can learn to go to sleep independently
Q: My two-year-old wants me to sit in his room until he falls asleep, before his nap and at nighttime. What can I do to change this habit? A: When you’re feeling emotionally ready to endure the [...]
Digital Device Use in the Age of Coronavirus
Several years ago, I was enjoying a solo breakfast upstairs at Fairway Café in New York City, surreptitiously observing people at the other tables and conjuring up their life stories. It was a father and [...]
Staying at Home and Aggressive Behavior
I got a call recently from the mother of two sons, one three years old and the other seven months. The mother said that the usually gentle three-year-old had “turned into a bully,” and had [...]