Savvy Expert

Dr. Jane Nelsen
Author, Positive Discipline series
Author, Raising Self-Reliant Children in a Self-Indulgent World

Backtalk and Disrespect

"I asked my daughter to pick up her shoes. She replied, 'Why don't you. You're the mother.' I couldn't believe it. Why would she be so disrespectful? Even more important, what should I do about it? I can't just let her get away with that, but the more I punish her, the worse it gets." Understanding Your Child, Yourself, and the Situation

Continue reading "Backtalk and Disrespect"

• Learn more about "Whining, Wailing and Other Behavior Challenges"
• Read all Savvy Expert articles about "Whining, Wailing and Other Behavior Challenges"

Savvy Parenting Q&A

Submitted by Mike, Santa Fe

Should I push my preschooler to learn how to read?

Resist the inclination to focus too soon and too intensely on letters and consonant sounds. Trust me that if your child's early years are rich in age-appropriate, play-based activities, there'll be lots of time and opportunity when he's at just the right point of readiness to learn the basics of reading. After all, that's what Kindergarten will be

Continue reading "Should I push my ...."

Answered by Jacque Grillo ,  Director, Lone Mountain Children's Center 

• What's your take? Post your answer...
• Learn more about "Reading"
• Read all Savvy Parenting Q&A's about "Reading"

Your Name:


Your Home Town:


Your Question:

Being Savvy Spotlight

Our Favorite (Gentle) DVDs

We have an odd phenomena going on in our house: my kids don't like movies. Oh, they like TV, mind you. They can veg out in front of Sesame Street with the best of them. But they only like "shows." The actual movies, even  Finding Nemo, Cars  and  Curious George , are too much for them.  With many kids' films featuring at least one scary scene

Continue reading "Our Favorite (Gentle) DVDs"

Take Our Expert Quiz

how is your toddler or preschooler progressing developmentally?