Elementary School Years

Here’s what Dr. Ann Corwin, The Parenting Doctor™, recommends about parenting the Elementary School years.

THE EXPRESSIVE SCHOOL AGE
“You’re soooo mean!” Ever hear these words out of your school age child? Kids in elementary school are able to express how they ‘feel’ with words now and do not hesitate to practice expressing themselves. This can be, to say the least, rather irritating to us as parents, but it is also an opportunity ‘to teach’ or discipline your child!

WHAT WOULD DR. ANN SAY?
Remember to ‘model’ for your kids how to express feelings in an appropriate way. So when you think someone says something mean to you as an adult express that to your child by telling them a story that might sound something like this…

“Today my friend said she didn’t like it when I was late to lunch and I’d better not be late again”! I thought that was so mean! But, I decided not to say, “You’re so mean”, but I took a big deep breath and turned around and walked away. That is how our family should act when we feel someone is being mean!

Coping with Back to School Conflicts

Hopefully your children’s transition from summer to school is a smooth one, but if not, here are a few tips on how to cope with typical back to school conflicts.
 
Dealing with Heavy Homework after a Light Summer
Homework can be piled on thick at the beginning of the new school year, or at least it seems [...]

How to Stop Manipulative Behavior

Does your child manipulate you? Do you ever feel like your child’s in charge and not you? If you answered “yes,” then you’re just like every other parent! But, even though you feel manipulated by your child, you may be surprised to learn that kids do a lot less manipulative behavior than you think.

All parents [...]

Teach Your Kids How to Deal With Bullies

As parents and children across the country begin preparing for ‘Back to School,” kids are feeling nervous about which of their friends (if any) they will be paired up with in their new classrooms and how much homework they’ll face, while parents worry about the safety of their children and if they will become the [...]

Should Kids Run Around Naked?

It’s summer, so there is the temptation to just let your kids run through the sprinklers in the buff or, if they are young enough, just hang out at the beach or the pool without a diaper. But is it okay for your kids to be seen in public naked? And if you do let [...]

Today’s Interview with Dr. Ann on WLW AM 700 Radio in Cincinnati: Yelling at Other People’s Kids!

I’d like to summarize some important points that surfaced during my interview this afternoon regarding disciplining other people’s children. First and foremost, remember any time you say anything to another parent about their kid’s misbehavior, those are fighting words. Even if parents know their kids are doing something wrong: if another parent says it, that [...]

Tips to Surviving Summer

Summer vacation… kids cannot wait and parents look forward to less structure and fun. But by the middle of July, the dreams of carefree summer fun seem to fade. Why? 
 
Kids love to predict: they want to know what’s coming next so they can manage their behavior. Even though it sounds great to just relax, [...]

Want To Know Why You’re In a Bad Mood? Watch T.V.

Ever get up “on the wrong side of the bed” and don’t know why?
At one time or another just about everybody experiences not knowing why they feel the way they do.  Kids get even more confused than parents do about their feelings.  All kids behaviors are in response to some sort of feeling and most [...]

School’s Out…Now What Do We Do With The Kids?

As adults we all look forward to those ‘lazy days of summer’, but with the kids out of school it can be stressful, instead of relaxing.  Questions like, how many activities should be planned for kids, how much T.V./computer is too much, where do we go on vacation and can I even go to the [...]

In Praise of Fathers

Fathers should be appreciated all year… not just on one day! While Father’s Day is a tremendous idea, we all need to affirm Dads for their significance every day of the year.
I come from a long line of fantastic fathering men. My grandfathers were both grand fathering me from birth to their deaths. My Dad, [...]

Why Do Kids Behave Differently When Mom is Around?

Dear Dr. Corwin:
I am the father of a two-year-old boy. When I am with him alone, he is a good toddler. He gives me no problems and doesn’t whine or throw tantrums. But when he is with my wife alone, or my wife and I are together with him, he is whiney and has tantrums [...]