The importance of teaching manners is part of good parenting

 QUESTION Dear Adele, I am a 32-year-old single, childfree woman who is dating a 35-year-old man with two youngsters, ages five and ten. While I care for the children, I find them quite unmannerly. In my opinion they are often rude and do not seem to know the words ‘please’

Parenting tips to deal with your argumentative teen without loosing your cool

 Question: Dear Adele, We are embarrassed to tell you and the world that our sweet 14-year-old daughter has become so argumentive, causing discord, friction, and disharmony in our family. We thought we were the perfect parents with an ideal child. We never expected a disagreeable teenager to emerge almost without

The gift of time just might be the best Father’s Day gift

 QUESTION Dear Adele, Father’s Day is fast approaching and we are running short on inexpensive gift ideas. We have a school-age child and a teenager. Any tips? Wife of a Great Father ANSWER Dear Wife of a Great Father, Father’s Day is celebrated in Canada on the third Sunday in

When your Academy Award contender acts out in public!

 QUESTION: Dear Adele, We need help! Our young son will soon be deserving of an Academy Award for his acting out behaviour in public! When we are out of the home, he seems to purposely decide to misbehave and act out, knowing we will not respond as skillfully as we

When your child always wants to be the ‘Top Dog’

 QUESTION Dear Adele, Our young son seems obsessed with winning! Everything turns into a competition and he loves to loudly boast of winning. This seems to be the case in everything from his team sports to family boardgames. Sometimes when he does not win or sees that there is little

Why your kids should do homework

 Question Dear Adele, My children attend in-person school and seem to be required to complete copious amounts of homework. My ‘mom’s group’ and I are ready to throw up our hands in frustration at trying to complete the work, supervise the children, and factor in everything else we have to

Easy ways to help build self-esteem in kids

 QUESTION: My daughter is a preteen and often seems shy and lacking in confidence. I try to tell her how awesome she is, but somehow, she doesn’t seem to appreciate how many good qualities she has. Can you share a few tips with me on self-esteem building? Proud Parent ANSWER: 

Mental health concerns skyrocket for children during Covid-19

 QUESTION: Dear Adele, Covid-19 seems to be taking a toll on our son. He is out of in-person school, away from his extracurricular activities, and has little chance to interact with peers. He appears mopey, disconnected and disheartened about his life. We are worried about him but really do not

Understanding why some kids turn into bullies while others don’t

 QUESTION Dear Adele, We understand that bullying is quite a problem in today’s society. My husband and I both recall a few incidents of being bullied ourselves as teenagers. Now we are young parents with two preschoolers who want to avoid raising a bully. Can you clue us in on

The case for cursive — why kids should be taught handwriting

 QUESTION Dear Adele, I recently asked my 10-year-old granddaughter to read the cursive written message on a card prepared for her father’s birthday. I was surprised that she was unable to read the few sentences and had to ask an adult at the table to explain what I had written.

Is your child ready for the responsibility of a furry friend

 QUESTION: Dear Adele, I’m just about worn down by the pleading of my child for a pet. While the puppy he has in mind is adorable, I toss and turn in my bed at night thinking about shedding hair, morning and evening walks and little wet mistakes on the living

When your children prefer the family bed

 Question: Dear Adele, We have a new baby at our home and a set of preschool twins. My wife often brings the baby to our bed as she finds nursing easier there. The twins seem to think our double bed belongs to them. When our family black lab decides to

Heart to Heart with Adele: Checkups for children’s mental health

 Question Dear Adele, My former husband is telling me our school age daughter is experiencing a mental health issue and that she wants to talk to a counsellor. I am unsure about how to handle this, as she has not expressed that desire to me. I do not want to