Imaginary companions are an integral part of many children's lives. They provide comfort in times of stress, companionship when they're lonely, someone to boss around when they feel powerless, and someone to blame for the ...  Read more... »

If you are in your mid to late 50s or older and have an intellectually disabled adult child living at home, you are part of the first generation whose disabled kids may well outlive them. ...  Read more... »

The college-age daughter of a friend of mine once told me how, when she was growing up, she was jealous of the extra attention that her twin brother got from their parents. She was angry ...  Read more... »

There are times when even the most docile children appear to have the aggressive tendencies of a professional wrestler. While a certain amount of pushing and shoving is to be expected from all children, especially ...  Read more... »

I've always found it useful to remember that, from a child's perspective, a lie is simply the best solution to a problem that he can come up with at that moment. The real challenge for ...  Read more... »

Lying is a skill all children learn. It is a tool for avoiding blame or punishment, and for shoring up a poor self-image. While all children lie, some do it much more than others. Psychologists ...  Read more... »

Although it appears so deceptively simple that we take it for granted, learning to go to sleep is often as much of a challenge to children as learning to walk. Bedtime is a cue for ...  Read more... »

The awkward statements and untimely behaviors of toddlers and preschoolers can offer us insight into how they are absorbing our culture. Feeling occasionally embarrassed by something your children do or say is as much a ...  Read more... »

It’s hard to know with any child when to say no, when to say yes, how much to push or set limits, or when to let him or her try to take flight, knowing he ...  Read more... »

If alcoholism seems like a lot to handle, imagine growing up with addicted parents. The alcoholic family is one of chaos, inconsistency, unclear roles, and illogical thinking. Arguments are pervasive, and violence or even incest ...  Read more... »

A routine visit to a doctor or dentist raises anxieties in almost all children. While most take the necessary pokes and needle sticks in stride, or become upset only on occasion, a few toddlers and ...  Read more... »

"I wanted to strangle the kid!" a friend of mine exclaimed as he recalled the recent behavior of a visiting child at his daughter's sixth birthday party. My friend is a family therapist who is ...  Read more... »

For many families, drinking alcohol is a way to celebrate something. The good cheer of the holiday season is liberally laced with wine. We use champagne and liquor to show our happiness at weddings and ...  Read more... »

A few years ago my office manager showed up late for work because her seventeen-month-old son's baby-sitter had cancelled at the last minute. (She usually brought her infant daughter to work with her.) It was ...  Read more... »

For hours after the incident, I could still see the impressions of the other preschooler’s front teeth on the bridge of my four-year-old son’s nose. Apparently my son’s classmate had become very frustrated by something ...  Read more... »