Don't Yell -- Use the Voice of Authority Aug 22 08:25am I am getting out of my car when I hear it. Across the street, in the yard of a neat brick home, a woman is telling a child to "Get over here!" There is a hard edge to her voice. The edge says "Get over here, or else. " That tone... Read more

Well Fed, Well Read: Are Your Kids Getting What They Need? Jul 20 02:25am When I'm working in the general pediatric clinic, I see a lot of children who are struggling in school. Many of them hate reading. They see it as boring, frustrating and meaningless.  I'm willing to bet that most of these children did not... Read more

Giving Children Space to Grow Jun 22 08:16am The other day, a friend of mine gave me a book. The title of the book is not important.* What is important is the story behind the gift. My friend is a pediatrician and mother of three children. As it turns out, they are all star students. The oldest... Read more

Unfinished Business Jun 07 06:23am Everyone knows that parents are responsible for their children.  But being responsible doesn't mean taking care of everything all the time. Sometimes, a little neglect is just what the doctor ordered.   For children, the best things are often... Read more

The Death of Childhood? May 25 03:00am My 18-year-old daughter told me this tonight: She and her boyfriend decided to have a picnic on the grounds of our local JCC, a lovely large green space. They wandered over to the old playground, one they had loved when they were little. It had a... Read more

Give Dad the BEST Father's Day Present May 21 01:30pm Today I saw a fantastic father. He was sitting in an exam room in the clinic, and I caught sight of him as I walked by. He had a three-year old girl draped across his knees. He was drumming on her back with the sides of his hands, karate-chop style.... Read more

Effective Parenting: Get with a Program! May 16 12:04pm I don't watch much TV. But I'm planning to change. A few days ago, the mother of one of my patients told me how much she learned from the TV show Nanny 911 . She learned, for example, that being firm but kind worked better than yelling.... Read more

Dealing with Explosive Parents Apr 24 04:35am My last blog entry was for parents of explosive children. In response, one reader asked, "How do you handle 'explosive' parents?" That question brought to mind these scenes from my clinic:  I'm seeing a boy for follow-up... Read more

Dealing with Explosive Children Apr 13 03:33am This blog entry is about the many, many children who are brought to the doctor because of explosive behavior. See if any of these portraits sound familiar: He walks past his sister, who is watching TV. Without warning, he slugs her. Any time you tell... Read more

Better Questions Mean Better Answers Mar 27 07:50am Sometimes the hardest part about a child's behavior problem is finding the right questions to ask. Parents often come in with one, such as "Why doesn't Johnny listen?" and then, as we talk, it changes. Here's how a typical... Read more