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Parenting

What are some of the traits seen in people with ADHD?

What are some of the traits seen in children and adults with ADHD?

girl frowning while other teens talk about her in the background

Dealing With the Fallout of Teen Sexting

Is there anything my husband and I can do to undo or minimize the devastation our teenage daughter has experienced because of her involvement with “sexting”? Her life – and our entire family’s – was turned upside-down when nude images of her were electronically circulated around her school. As you can imagine, the resulting emotional trauma has …

mom lying in bed with baby

Infant Sleeping Arrangements and the “Family Bed”

What’s your opinion of babies sleeping with their parents? A friend of mine believes that the so-called “Family Bed” is beneficial for every member of the household. She even claims that this practice can prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and provide other health benefits. Is she right?

mom and dad smiling at baby

Understanding Sex-Specific Differences Between Mom’s and Dad’s Roles

When it comes to parenting children effectively, are there any truly meaningful distinctions between the contributions of the mother and those of the father? As a dad, I’m actively involved with my kids on the weekends and evenings, and I even go to school meetings when I can. Is there something special I’m supposed to …

family mom dad kids looking out TV remote

Media Guidelines in the Home

How can our family establish some workable media standards? I understand the need for thoughtful discernment in this area as opposed to mindless rules, but sometimes I feel the need for more solid guidelines in order to gauge the merits of movies and music and to weigh specific decisions about appropriate family entertainment. Can you …

one person helping another up a hill at sunset

Developing Christian Character in Children

How can I raise my kids so that they will grow up to be genuinely godly adults? Most of the parenting materials I’ve seen have a great deal to say about discipline, mental and emotional health, obedience and order in the home. Unfortunately, there isn’t much out there on the subject of character development, especially …

family reading together two parents three young kids

Problems with Family Devotions

Do you have any suggestions for more effective ways to worship and study the Bible together as a family? We’ve tried hard to have regular devotions at our house, but it’s been difficult and discouraging because our children seem so bored and uninvolved. Can you help us?

boy frowning swimming pool wet hair

Child Has a Negative Attitude

What can we do to help our son develop a more positive outlook on life? He complains about everything and seldom seems happy. His negative attitude is affecting his school work, and I’m sure it’s hurting his ability to make friends as well.

boy looking at scrapbook

Cost, Time, and Peer Pressures of Extracurricular Activities

In light of our tight financial situation, how should we handle all of the costly “extras” at our child’s school? Here’s the latest example: we received a note from my child’s kindergarten teacher informing us that the school would be producing yearbooks that cost $30.00. We declined to buy one, only to learn that our …

boy high fiving mom on bed

Developing Effective Communication Patterns With Kids

How can we teach our children good listening skills? They seem to have trouble paying attention to instructions and following directions. In my daughter’s case, I think she’s just defiant most of the time. As for my son, he’s very intense and tends to get so locked into television, a book, a videogame, or whatever …

back of babysitter holding child

Finding the Right Babysitter

How do we go about choosing the best person to care for our children when we’re away from home? My spouse and I desperately need to get some time away from the kids and start “dating” each other again, at least every other week or so. But we’re not sure how to find a suitable …

scrabble letters love on Bible

Keeping Valentine’s Day Positive for Kids

Can you give me any ideas for helping children celebrate Valentine’s Day in a healthy and uplifting way? I always loved February 14 when I was a kid, and I’d like my kids to have the same experience. But I don’t want to reinforce our culture’s misguided ideas about romance. Any suggestions?

child watching fish at aquarium window

Providing Enriching Childhood Experiences on a Tight Budget

How can I give my kids the chance to try different activities and programs when we don’t have much money? I’m a stay-at-home mom and my husband works hard to support our family, but we’re living on a shoestring budget. I don’t want my children to miss out on life-enriching opportunities.

woman and little boy looking down arm around toy truck

Talking to Children About the Death of a Relative

What’s the best way to help a child work through the passing of a relative or close family member? My father died this year, and our grade-school-aged son has been asking questions. For example, he wants to know where grandpa has gone and whether he has become a “guardian angel.” How do I respond without …

doctor's office scale

Understanding Obesity in Children and Teens

Is it normal for a pre-teen child to suddenly put on a lot of weight? Our child has gained quite a few pounds recently, and we’re not sure whether we should be concerned. What is the technical definition of “obesity” in children and teens?

toddler hands driving two toy cars on table

Dealing With a Selfish Toddler

How can I teach my two-year-old to share his things and be more cooperative, generous, and kind when he plays with others? I’ve been shocked to see how selfish he can be in social situations with other children.

Woman feeding baby with bottle

Weaning a Breastfeeding Child

How can I make the transition from breast to bottle as smooth as possible for my baby and me? What’s the best way to wean a child, and when should I begin the process?

teen lifting arms angrily while looking at laptop

Dealing With a Teen Who Says Parents Don’t Listen

How should we respond to our teenager when he claims that we don’t care about what he has to say? We do try to give him our full attention whenever he talks to us, but he still complains that we’re not listening. We don’t think his accusations are fair, but we also want him to …

unhappy teen

Teen Is Disrespectful but Wants Respect

As parents, how should we deal with a dismissive and smart-alecky adolescent? Our son says that we don’t treat him with respect, but from my perspective the shoe is actually on the other foot – his behavior towards us is extremely disrespectful. What can we do to resolve this conflict?

hands of prisoner reaching through bars

Relating to an Imprisoned Adult Child

How do we relate to an adult child in prison? It’s painful to admit this, but through a series of unfortunate circumstances and poor choices, our grown son has been incarcerated. I can’t even begin to describe how horrible we feel. How can we reach out and support him without enabling or appearing to condone …