Separation anxiety is fairly common in the toddler and preschool years. It is most likely to happen in response to the start of a new school year as it is a change in caregivers, setting, peer activity and schedule all at once. Goodbye rituals can be helpful. When my girls were little we had two … Continue reading Separation Anxiety Tips (from CDS with notes for other schools)
At least every other month a parent says to me, “this might be odd, but my child is scared of going to another room in the house by himself.” This is not odd. Between four and eight or nine years old, this is completely common. My older daughter spent a few years negotiating with me … Continue reading What to Do When a Child is Scared of Going to Another Room in the House Alone
Children’s storybooks Sometimes I Worry too Much but Now I Know How to Stop by Huebner David and the Worry Beast: Helping Kids Cope with Anxiety by Guanci Nobody’s Perfect: A Story for Children about Perfectionism by Burns Wilma Jean the Worry Machine by Cook Slip, Slide Skate by Herman (perfectionism) The Girl Who Never … Continue reading Resources for Children’s Anxiety, Worry and Perfectionism
Developing fears is a normal part of the preschool and early elementary school years. Their awareness of the world and their imaginations are growing faster than their ability to use logic and reason. This is also a stage where the time they spend away from their families is increasing, and they are learning to function … Continue reading Addressing Childhood Fears
Pulling their own hair can be mild and transient in some children. This is often related to self-soothing, and seen as being similar to head banging, thumb sucking, hair twirling or body rocking. When it is this, parents may look for patterns such as pulling when they are bored, lonely, excited or when they are falling … Continue reading What To Do When Your Child Pulls Their Own Hair
Hi Dr. Rene, I have a third grader who, at times, seems to be paralyzed by indecision. Here is a typical situation: each week his teacher sends home a homework packet that requires two reading and writing activities. He is given ten activities to choose two from (e.g., write a letter to the librarian telling her why … Continue reading Helping Children Learn to Make Decisions
When your child is challenged by a new problem, the idea is to remind them of what they already know and build from there. This can help make the task seem more manageable and provide a familiar strategy. Let’s say your child has mastered 25 piece puzzles, and they are starting on a 60 piece puzzle … Continue reading Best New Learning Builds on Previous Knowledge
It is normal for young children to experience some level of separation anxiety at the start of a new school year. It often represents a change in caregiver, schedule, setting and classmates. As a parent, it makes sense to prepare yourself for some upset, and be pleasantly surprised if it is an easy transition. Take … Continue reading Tips for Separation at the Start of the School Year
Dear Dr. Rene, My son is almost three years old. He is very verbal and cognitive, but seems overwhelmed easily in playgroups. If we are at playgrounds and there are three or more kids nearby, he wants to leave. If an indoor group is loud, or children are misbehaving, he gets extremely upset. He manages better … Continue reading Playdates and Stressed Kids
Dear Dr. Rene, My daughter will be four years old in January and will not pee or poop on the potty. She wears underwear all day long and very rarely has an accident. However, whenever she has to pee or poop, she asks for a pull-up. She puts on the pull-up herself, goes pee, takes … Continue reading Will Not Sit on Potty
Parenting by Dr. Rene 