The article features advice columns addressing various parenting challenges, including managing a child's manipulative behavior, addressing inappropriate conduct by family members, coping with parental exhaustion, and navigating family relationships, emphasizing communication, setting boundaries, and seeking support.
In a small town, a mother named Cara is struggling with disciplining her daughter Vanessa, who exhibits aggressive behavior towards other children. Cara's current approach involves teaching Vanessa to use polite phrases before taking toys or pushing others, which is causing concern among other parents. A fellow parent, seeking to help Cara without offending her, considers modeling appropriate behavior and recommending parenting books to guide Cara towards more effective discipline strategies.
A woman banned her sister's children from her home after they caused significant damage and their parents, who practice "gentle parenting," failed to discipline them. The incident sparked a heated debate on Reddit about the effectiveness of gentle parenting, with many criticizing it as permissive and ineffective. The woman and her sister are now estranged, and opinions remain divided on the parenting style.
A concerned grandmother seeks advice on her son's volatile relationship with his ex-girlfriend, who uses their baby as a pawn whenever he starts dating someone new. The grandmother suggests seeking legal help to establish parental rights and responsibilities to prevent further manipulation. Additionally, the grandmother advises her son to minimize his dates' contact with his son until he is in a serious long-term relationship and to take precautions to avoid unwanted pregnancies. In another letter, a father seeks advice on dealing with his 11-year-old daughter's disrespectful behavior during a family outing, and Amy suggests addressing the behavior immediately and, if necessary, removing the child from the situation for reflection. Lastly, a reader disagrees with Amy's response to a mother who objected to her daughter bringing four dogs to her wedding.
A viral video shared by @theteachermama on Instagram demonstrates the difference between ineffective and effective ways to handle bedtime routines. The ineffective methods include being distracted, repetitive, and uninvolved, while the effective methods involve being prepared, engaged, and connected with the child. The video serves as an example rather than a strict formula, emphasizing that every family and child is different. The key principles highlighted are being present, proactive, and supportive, which can help alleviate bedtime struggles in the long run.
New research suggests that shouting at children may cause long-term damage, as adults are often unaware of how their tone and criticizing words can negatively impact children. However, some parents argue that shouting is a necessary and effective form of discipline, teaching respect and toughness. They believe that wrapping children in cotton wool is more harmful than raising one's voice. Alternatives to shouting include positive reinforcement, teamwork, effective communication, understanding the child's needs, letting go of ego, watching one's words, avoiding threats, and being patient.
Treating postnatal depression with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) not only benefits mothers but also improves child behavior, according to a study analyzing data from over 61,000 mothers and their children. The study found that SSRI treatment led to reduced maternal depression, improved partner relationships, and fewer child behavioral difficulties such as ADHD symptoms up to five years after childbirth. These findings challenge concerns about the long-term impact of SSRIs and suggest that they offer a net positive effect for families affected by postnatal depression.