LESLIE  LELINE

Q: What do I do when my four-year-old son informs me that he is having a cupcake for breakfast? I say to him, “No, you are not having a cupcake for breakfast,” and he says, “Yes, I am having a cupcake for breakfast,” and I say, “No, you are not having a cupcake for breakfast. They are not healthy breakfast food,” and that goes on until he leaves for preschool at 9:00. I finally did give him half a cupcake because he had eaten his regular breakfast while we were arguing. A: HE

I overheard some parents chatting in the dentists office about how hard it is to get their young children to brush their teeth. They discussed a few ideas that included bribes and threats and alot of tears. Thinking about all the things we need to teach our children, all the ways we mamage behavior. i thought, hmmm, there are just some things that are non-negotiable. Personal hygiene is one of them because it is crucial to healthy life. This what I would do if my child was f

Two days ago, I wrote an answer to a question about Keeping Your Cool. I have a suggestion for teaching you and your children how to keep their cool. When we have temper, that is when rude things come out of our mouths. rude words are hurtful and do not achieve positive results. So I teach my kids to be a turtle. I say, "When we are mad or frustrated, that's when rude things come out of our mouths. So, if you are feeling angry or frustrated, BE A TURTLE. Cover your mouth with

Q: When everything is so upsetting and chaotic in a moment of bad behavior and anger, it seems unrealistic to be able to stay calm and figure out the right words to use and the proper consequences! How do you keep your cool? A: Give yourself time before you talk. Be honest and say, “I am so angry that I can’t talk to you right now.” It is ok to delay a consequence temporarily while you regain composure. It only takes a minute for that intense emotion of anger to dissipate, a

I am a mother and a teacher. I have been raising children and teaching kids for the past 25 years, and during that time I have seen certain behavior issues arise again and again. After many years of helping parents* address these issues, I have some insights I’d like to share in this blog. Parenting is not an easy job. It is a job that requires consistency and selflessness every single day. Successful parenting, I believe, requires a balance of love, communication and guidanc