New York Times Magazine

When a ‘big kid’ has accidents

Post image for When a ‘big kid’ has accidents

by New York Times Family Column

Question: My 9-year-old daughter doesn’t seem to notice she has to urinate until the need is urgent. I often see her fidgeting and hopping from one foot to the other, and when I tell her to go, I see the dawning look of realization on her face.

[click to continue…]

Readers who enjoyed this post may also enjoy:

{ 0 comments }

Don’t turn mealtime into a power struggle

by New York Times Family Column May 12, 2010
Thumbnail image for Don’t turn mealtime into a power struggle

Question: My 9-month-old is resisting solid foods, and mealtimes are turning into a power struggle. We introduced solids at six months, and she has been breast-fed, with an occasional bottle of breast milk. She is not interested in bottles anymore. We are trying not to push her too hard but she ends up eating only [...]

Read the full article →

The ‘only child’ – pros and cons

by New York Times Family Column April 19, 2010
Thumbnail image for The ‘only child’ – pros and cons

Question: I have an only child. What’s your best advice for raising one? Answer: Raising an only child brings special challenges and rewards. An only child is always a “first child.” Parents may feel that no other child can compare. But they may also be at a loss because they don’t have the experience with [...]

Read the full article →

It takes a village

by New York Times Family Column April 9, 2010
Thumbnail image for It takes a village

Question: I’ve seen parents benefit from the exchange of advice on the sidelines at a soccer game, and by volunteering together for a parent-teacher association. But not every parent can participate. How can we help restore and strengthen social networks that nourish parents? Networking reduces not only parents’ anxieties but also overuse of the medical [...]

Read the full article →

Head banging…and we’re not talking about rock ‘n roll!

by New York Times Family Column March 28, 2010
Thumbnail image for Head banging…and we’re not talking about rock ‘n roll!

Question: When he is frustrated, our 25-month-old boy hits himself or bangs his head. His mother and I don’t know whether this behavior is normal. One set of in-laws considers it bizarre. Other families are experiencing the same thing, we learned from our web research. We understand that at his age, our son has little [...]

Read the full article →

Boys height issues

by New York Times Family Column March 16, 2010
Thumbnail image for Boys height issues

Question: My 15-year-old son hasn’t grown much, if at all, for about a year, including his foot size. Has he stopped growing? Or might he still have another growth spurt? I know that boys often grow until they are 21. Answer:  Many factors determine a child’s pattern of growth and final adult height: genes, diet [...]

Read the full article →

Children learn from parents and parents learn from children

by New York Times Family Column March 10, 2010
Thumbnail image for Children learn from parents and parents learn from children

Question: My husband and I have different opinions about how parents’ behavior affects a child. I believe that the child learns from your behavior and watches how you react to situations, in turn learning how to handle his emotions. If you are patient even when a child is fussy, that helps him learn to be [...]

Read the full article →

From discipline to self-discipline

by New York Times Family Column March 4, 2010
Thumbnail image for From discipline to self-discipline

The goal of parental discipline is to help a child rely on his own motivation — to control his impulses, manage his emotions, respect the needs, feelings and rights of others, and “do the right thing” for its own sake. A child who believes in himself can dare to face his mistakes. Gradually he must [...]

Read the full article →

“Where did I come from?”

by New York Times Family Column February 21, 2010
Thumbnail image for “Where did I come from?”

Question: My older daughter was conceived through IVF (in vitro fertilization). Shortly after her birth I began wondering when she might ask the inevitable question, “Where did I come from?” What would you say?

Read the full article →

A toddlers verbal challenges

by New York Times Family Column January 22, 2010
Thumbnail image for A toddlers verbal challenges

By T. BERRY BRAZELTON, M.D., and JOSHUA SPARROW, M.D. from The New York Times Syndicate’s FAMILIES TODAY column. Question: My son is two and a half.  He speaks in sentences but his verbal exchanges are more descriptive than interactive — almost like a running commentary. He also has problems “naming” things. He doesn’t seem to grasp [...]

Read the full article →

A three year old’s ‘potty progress’

by New York Times Family Column January 9, 2010
Thumbnail image for A three year old’s ‘potty progress’

By T. BERRY BRAZELTON, M.D., and JOSHUA SPARROW, M.D. from The New York Times Syndicate’s FAMILIES TODAY column. Question: My 3-year-old daughter is fully potty-trained for urination — no diaper at night or for naps. But she refuses to use the toilet for a bowel movement and asks for a diaper instead (she will sit on [...]

Read the full article →

The Challenge of Single Parenting

by New York Times Family Column January 6, 2010
Thumbnail image for The Challenge of Single Parenting

By T. BERRY BRAZELTON, M.D., and JOSHUA SPARROW, M.D. from The New York Times Syndicate’s FAMILIES TODAY column. Between ages 3 and 6, children intensely identify with both of their parents. Yet half of all children spend significant time in a single-parent family, often after a divorce. How can single parents help children develop an identity?

Read the full article →

Coping with loss

by New York Times Family Column December 24, 2009
Thumbnail image for Coping with loss

Question: Since her great-grandfather died a few weeks ago, my 4-year-old daughter asks constantly about death. She asks why and how my mother died (which happened before my daughter was born). She wants to know if we parents will die at the same time, and who will look after her. It’s hard to be honest [...]

Read the full article →

Potty training around the clock

by New York Times Family Column December 18, 2009

By T. BERRY BRAZELTON, M.D., and JOSHUA SPARROW, M.D. from The New York Times Syndicate’s FAMILIES TODAY column. Question: Our 2-year-and-9-month-old son was potty-trained for daytime fairly easily at 2 and 1/2. At night he is still in a diaper, and he wakes up very wet. How do we help him to stay dry at night? [...]

Read the full article →

Carrying a Tune

by New York Times Family Column November 30, 2009
Thumbnail image for Carrying a Tune

By T. BERRY BRAZELTON, M.D., and JOSHUA SPARROW, M.D. from The New York Times Syndicate’s FAMILIES TODAY column Question: My sons, who are 6 and 3, have been able to hum and sing on key since before they were 2. Why can’t my almost-5-year-old daughter carry a tune? Do most children grow to recognize pitch? I [...]

Read the full article →

When a three year old boy insists that he’s a girl

by New York Times Family Column November 23, 2009
Thumbnail image for When a three year old boy insists that he’s a girl

By T. BERRY BRAZELTON, M.D., and JOSHUA SPARROW, M.D. from The New York Times Syndicate’s FAMILIES TODAY column Question: How concerned should I be that my very imaginative 3-year-old son insists he’s a girl? I want him to express himself however he’s most comfortable, but I also want him not to be teased. The kids in [...]

Read the full article →

Learning to Walk

by New York Times Family Column October 18, 2009
Thumbnail image for Learning to Walk

By T. BERRY BRAZELTON, M.D., and JOSHUA SPARROW, M.D. from The New York Times Syndicate’s FAMILIES TODAY column When your child is about a year old, she focuses on learning to walk. We call that a “touchpoint” — a major advance that is sometimes accompanied by a temporary retreat in other areas.

Read the full article →

Understanding the Anxious Mind

by Community of Mindful Parents October 5, 2009
Thumbnail image for Understanding the Anxious Mind

“Jerome Kagan’s “Aha!” moment came with Baby 19. It was 1989, and Kagan, a professor of psychology at Harvard, had just begun a major longitudinal study of temperament and its effects…”

Read the full article →

Back to top