It is not uncommon for couples to have a second child when the oldest child is about three years old. At this age the child is still very dependent and up to that point has had the experience of having been the sole focus of parental attention. The baby will require a lot of care an attention, it is normal for feeelings of jealousy to appear. But, in this matter as in so many others, the issue will become a serious problem only when it is mishandled. WHAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CHILDREN’S JEALOUSY Jealousy can show in many…
How many times have we observed situations in which adults are clearly disturbed by a death, or other unfortunate event that has occurred, and it seems to us that children are not affected by the event? We may wonder if it is convenient to talk about the subject with them, and it is likely that we often choose to ´leave them alone`, in the vain hope that it is not actually hurting them. Is that the right thing to do? WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT CHILDHOOD PAIN IN THE FACE OF DEATH It is true that children do not usually…
It often happens that a second child arrives when the oldest is three or four years old. At that age children are very curious and want explanations, and the sexual question is frequently one of their concerns. WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT SEX EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN The subject of sexuality is often very emotionally charged and therefore seems difficult to approach with any objectivity. While some see it as something dirty and an expression of our lowest instincts, others, wanting to depart from that position, assume an absolute tolerance for any sexual behavior, as if it should not be subject…
Preschoolers don’t usually keep their attention focussed on a single object for long. If they are lucky to have shelves with various toys, they will pick one and play with it for a while, then another and another … The result, of course, will not please the mom or the person who has been working to keep the house tidy. WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT TEACHING ORDER TO YOUR PRESCHOOLER We know that at that age they can be taught to be orderly, that they love sound patterns and that we can begin to stimulate reading by associating words and…
I have a ten-year–old son and a girl of three. My daughter becomes totally transfixed when her brother begins to show off his many motor prowess, and my heart starts pounding as soon as I see her trying to imitate him. I immediately try to refrain her and explain to her that she’s still too small and can’t do everything her brother is doing; but by that time she’s so fired up that she pays no attention to me, and just as I had expected, she falls to the ground very hard, hurting herself. My husband insists I make…
I have a four-year old daughter, Patricia, who is very fearful. She’s afraid of storm, and whichever bug exists: cockroaches, spiders, large butterflies, cicadas… She makes me search every corner of her bedroom before she gets into bed, then she doesn’t want the light out, finally, near dawn, she’ll come to our bedroom. The worst part is that this doesn’t seem to be getting any better, on the contrary. My husband says I’m responsible for her behavior since the truth is, bugs also make me feel uneasy. GETTING TO KNOW CHILDHOOD FEARS You might start by asking yourself how…
I don’t know what to do with my son; he’s five years old and still wets his bed. Sometimes I explain to him in a kindly manner that he’s getting old now and shouldn’t do it; he promises me he won’t do it again, but all the same, he’ll wet his bed the following night. Then I lose patience and scold him. Most importantly, his father reacts very strongly and asks him in an intimidating tone if he’s not ashamed of himself. Then Fernando, that’s his name, answers that no, he’s not ashamed. At that point his father explodes,…
My four-year-old son, David, must arrive to Kinder-garden at eight o’clock. But he does not seem to understand that he must get dressed and eat breakfast on time. So, I end up dressing him myself or yelling at him to do it. I know he is old enough to get dressed and I also know that both methods are wrong. But what should I do? WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT WHY CHILDREN DELAY WHEN GETTING READY You are right when saying that your child should dress by himself and this should not be a reason to be struggling daily.…
I live in an apartment, a small one at that, and I have a five year old son who doesn’t understand that he can’t play inside the house like he does in the park, where his grandma an I usually take him; even my husband manages to find time from his work to take him, we have to admit that men are learning to be better dads! But sometimes it rains or none of us can go, and in those occasions, Alejandro, that’s my son’s name, starts playing football in the living room. At first, I tell him in…
My six year old son has always been a happy child and he never gave me problems. But for the first time I’m seeing him a little irritable. I have the impression that at school they are demanding more than what is convenient; it seems that they are stimulating him to be too competitive. My husband says it is fine, it will allow him to be prepared for the world in which he will live in. A very dear friend told me, on the contrary, that the important thing is not for him to be perfect, but happy and…