toolbox

Manners 911

QUESTION: "My children's father's new girlfriend buys inappropriate clothing for my nine year old daughter.  I have talked to him about it but it has not stopped.  Worse, my daughter only wants to wear this style clothing."   

ANSWER: Because you have already spoken to your daughter's father about it and voiced your concerns, each parent must make his own decision on clothing choices in each home. 

QUESTION: Our three year-old son often throws a tantrum in the supermarket when he doesn’t get a sugary cereal. He shrieks, kicks his legs and the other customers stare at us. How should I handle this?

ANSWER: The first choice is to leave the child at home. Choice #2 – If the child must come with you, set boundaries before you enter the store. “Do you want to hold the grocery list for me?”; “Remember we can only get what we have on the list,” or “Remember to use your quiet voice inside the store." Choice #3 – If all else fails, remove your screaming child from the store, find a quiet area and in a firm and calm voice tell your child to calm down. “Non-temper tantrum behavior” can be positively rewarded with a big hug and words to indicate a special activity for just the two of you.

QUESTION: Mornings in our home are a nightmare. My 3, 5 and 7 year old will not get up and get dressed on their own. I get very angry, start to scream and it gets out of control. We hardly ever get out of the house on time. Help!

ANSWER: Organization is key. A schedule must be made for everyone to follow, beginning the night before. Involve your children in this process with age appropriate tasks.

QUESTION: “My fourteen year old son is glued to his computer.  I think he stays up past MY bedtime to chat with friends on line.  In the morning he has difficulty getting up for school and is very moody."  

ANSWER: If you suspect misuse of his computer/cell phone, it must be turned over to you at bedtime. If the computer is not portable, remove the keyboard and mouse.

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