Avoiding morning mayhem with kids

 QUESTION Dear Adele, Mornings at our house during the week are often utter mayhem. We have three children and getting them ready and into the car in time for school and daycare is often filled with stress, meltdowns and impatience. Any suggestions? Morning Meltdown Mama ANSWER Dear Morning Meltdown Mama,

Gratitude and your child

 QUESTION Dear Adele, Our children were fortunate enough to receive many beautiful gifts for Christmas from friends and relatives. However, every time we suggest they write a ‘Thank You’ note we get moans and groans that they don’t know what to write, and why do they have to. Can you

When your child complains of boredom

 QUESTION Dear Adele, Our school-age children often whine that they are bored. Despite having rooms full of books and devices, a family room replete with toys, and scheduled extracurricular activities during the week, we still get this complaint. What do you make of it and what can we do to

Should kids be told the truth about Santa Claus?

 QUESTION Dear Adele, Our children are three and five years of age. We are wondering if it damages children to believe in Santa Claus and to have their parents promote the belief? What do you think? Enchanted with Santa ANSWER Dear Enchanted with Santa, Christian L. Hart states in a

Why kids are mean and what to do about it

 QUESTION Dear Adele How do you best guide your offspring when you know they aren’t being nice to other kids? Disheartened ANSWER Dear Disheartened, Children can be very mean to each other in many ways. “Insults, exclusion, gossip, ignoring, taunting, hitting, kicking, and shoving” make the list, according to Psychology

Empathy and your child

 QUESTION Dear Adele, How do we stop putting our own feelings onto our kids? When my 14-year-old son is left out and feels he has no friends, I feel heartbroken. I know that’s my own stuff. I want to help him but not put my own feelings onto him. Ideas,

Teaching your kid to ask for help

 QUESTION Dear Adele, We have just finished the parent-teacher interview for our eight-year-old son, who is currently in Grade 3, French Immersion. His teacher said he was bright, social and currently an academic match for his peers. On occasion, however, he struggles, and does not seem to know how to

Gift giving and grandparents at Christmas

 QUESTION Dear Adele, Christmas is fast approaching and I’m scratching my head trying to think of appropriate gifts for the parents of my husband and myself. Both sets of grandparents are in the fortunate position of needing nothing. Anything they want they are able to buy for themselves. What ideas

Why children should help out at home

 QUESTION Dear Adele, I have been a parental observer for some years now, in the role of a grandmother. For the most part, my daughter and her husband are doing a good job, in my opinion. However, I note that the children do very little to be helpful. They seem

Can you be your child’s friend?

 QUESTION Dear Adele, My husband was raised with rather strict parents who were not much fun to be around. Now that we have our own children, he tries very hard not to follow in his parent’s footsteps. Sometimes I think he is too friendly, too permissive, and shares to much

Should unvaccinated guests be invited to teenager’s gatherings?

 QUESTION Dear Adele Our daughter is turning 16 soon and we are planning a small ‘Sweet-16’ party to celebrate. One of her close friends is not vaccinated and we prefer she not attend. How should we handle this sensitive challenge so as not to destroy the friendship and good feelings

The benefits of outdoor play for kids

 QUESTION Dear Adele, I recently read that the average child spends seven hours per day behind a screen. I certainly don’t want my school-aged children to grow up with such a sedentary lifestyle. What do you think are the benefits of activity and outdoor play for kids? How can I

Bedtime routines for kids

 Question Dear Adele, My husband and I are at odds about the subject of bedtime for our preschooler. I think our son should have a set bedtime each night, while my husband thinks we should wait until he appears tired to put him to bed. We are arguing about this

Incorporate some new traditions into your Thanksgiving celebration

 QUESTION Dear Adele, Thanksgiving is fast approaching and I'm at a loss about how to make it a special weekend for the immediate family. Covid-19 is impacting my traditions and I'm looking for some new ideas for a family of four and possibly a few guests. Can you help? Out

Stepparenting Savvy

 QUESTION Dear Adele, I am a single guy who is engaged to a divorcee with two school aged children. I like the kids but find them a bit unruly at times. I am wondering how I should tackle the discipline with them when their mom and I cohabit? All advice

Parental placement preferences for elementary school children

 QUESTION Dear Adele, The school year has just begun. My eight-year-old son returned home from school on the first day to report that he was in a split grade, and had no friends in his class from last year. We are worried about the split grade concept and feel badly

How children and grandchildren push our buttons

 QUESTION Dear Adele, Our grandchildren have become great button pushers! They seem to know exactly what to do to get their way with their parents. Sometimes they beg, sometimes they yell, sometimes they pout! I cannot tell you how annoying it is to see them get their way, with some

Back-to-school tips for parents

 QUESTION Dear Adele, The back-to-school season is upon us! Every year I worry about the start of school for my children and try to anticipate all the things that might be anxiety producing for them. I know you had a career as a teacher and wonder if you have any

Your child is heading off to college leaving you with an empty nest

 QUESTION Dear Adele, Our son has successfully graduated from high school and been accepted in the program of his choice at an out-of-town university. While I am proud of him and want only the best for him, I am feeling a pain in my heart thinking about him not being

Children’s mental health — dealing with depression

 QUESTION Dear Adele, We have heard a great deal about the impact of Covid-19 on the mental health of children. What are the signs of depression we should be on the alert for? Watching ANSWER Dear Watching, According to National Geographic in ‘Your Emotions, The Science of How You Feel’,

How to get your kids to listen

 QUESTION Dear Adele, We are having trouble teaching our kids to listen and respond to our requests the first time. They ignore us, bock at instructions and sometimes downright refuse to cooperate. We never expected that a four-year-old and a six-year-old would behave this way! Can you help us improve

Putting the brakes on the bickering

 QUESTION Dear Adele, We need some help. Our three school-age children are constantly squabbling and bickering about everything.” He’s looking at me!” says one. “She’s breathing on me!” retorts the other. And then the exchange of verbal assaults ensues with one of us parents sometimes raising our voices to tell

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

Win the war on whining and create a peaceful, cooperative family

 QUESTION Dear Adele, Our two young children are driving us bonkers with whining. We need to bolster the troops to win the war on whining. Whether it’s the battle about bedtime, the demand for more chocolate brownies, or the desire to watch just one more television show, the children whine.

Scuttling the sass and buttoning up the backtalk

 QUESTION Dear Adele, Our six-year-old has recently become quite sassy! When things don’t go his way and we have to speak to him, he seems to come back at us with a proliferation of backtalk. We believe in respectful communication and need some ideas on how to end this. Help