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My son, age 15, and his friends like to play these role playing games such as Magic the Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons (also called D&D). I came across some information, mostly fundamentalist writing, against these types of games.
Since you do a column on games and toys for children, do you have any information on the use or misuse of role play/fantasy games by older children and teenagers?
Should parents be on the alert for this material? How can parents help their teens to deal with their indulgence in fantasy games?
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Hi I am a single mother of 2 boys (11/7)they are really good kids.I had my sons write a letter to santa and I told them that I will mail it for them.My 11yr I think he knows that Iam santa but we don't say anything.Now in the letter he was say how he hates his dad he really hates him.I think he feels bad about it.and the pictures in he's room of his dad are all blacked out. My family is really big and we live in walking distance of each other.I was going to write him a letter and say its from santa and try to help him figure out his feels and have him open up to me about his dad so I can get some kind of understanding.His dad is a good dad but not reliable.He was abusive to me ever hit the kids and did drugs and drank. He is now cleaning himself up and wants in their lives but my 11y will not talk to him or read the letters his dad write to him.I told his dad he needs to go at our sons pace he will open up to him but with this letter to santa I don't know what to do for my son.
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My son Cooper is six years and he is the pickiest eater ever! I have tried making fun recipes, different shapes out of food, etc etc. He would rather go to bed on an empty stomach than eat, or, if I am lucky enough to get him to try something, and he doesn't like it, he gags on it and practically throws it up. What can I do?
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How much individual time does each of my 3 boys need (4 months, 3 and 5)and how do I schedule the day to meet those needs and my own needs?
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My son is 13 yrs old and will be turning 14 this summer. Being a single parent, my son and I have moved from school system to school system. We just moved again and hopefully the last time. My son is in the 8th grade and started a school that has approx. 1300 students that attend. There are drugs and violence just like any other school. But I am concerned that I haven't given him strong enough tools to make it without my protection over him. My son is wonderful with picking the right friends but the children that don't get enough attention at home seem to cling to him? What do I do? How do I know that he will be ok without me watching him like a hawk? I do trust him but I am concerned that he will follow the others just to fit in.
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My Daughter, age 12 wants to attend a party at her girlfriend's house which is a high school graduation party for the girl's brother. She says her friend is inviting other of her 12-year old girlfriends. I do not know the parents and do not want her to go. To me this is totally inappropriate. My husband and daughter don't understand why. Please advise.
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I have a 17 year old son who is incredibly bright, very talented, but seems unmotivated. Everything he learns seems to be effortless. His School Marks are consistently below his capabilities because he frequently fails to turn in his assignments, or does a sub-par job. He is uninterested in learning to drive, and try though I might, I cannot help him to understand the value associated with getting a job.
His mother and I have been divorced since 2000, and I am now remarried. His mother's stance when I talk with her about him is to become defensive and to accuse me of impugning her parenting skills. She does not like to push him and essentially turns every discussion we have on this topic in to a chance to extoll his virtues.... which are many, but that's not the point. His mother is afraid that pushing him will ruin his self-esteem, while I believe setting goals and achieving them is precisely how we build self esteem. My son is about to go out in the world and go to college, which we cannot afford. Thus far, he has done little to nothing to earn money for. Lately, every tactic I try seems to meet with the same result - passive-agressive resistance. To complicate things, he has few friends and also seems unmotivated to socialize with them. I can get him to do most anything if I take him by the hand and do it with him (study, set up times to hang out with friends, go look for jobs), but he digs his heels in when I ask him to do it on his own. I am at my wits end - he is such a great guy and I fear he is cutting off his nose to spite his face.
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My daughter is 6 years old. I have a friend who has a 5 year old daughter. My daughter is very outgoing and athletic. My friend is constantly putting her daughter in the same activities so they can be together. The problem is, they argue constantly. My friend says they never argue when they are with her but I know that is not true because my daughter tells me differently. I really do not want my daughter and the 5 year old to continue to be around each other. The 5 year old is constantly whining and complaining and when she doesn't get her way she tells my daughter that she is mean. She is always blaming everything on my daughter and tattle telling about every minor thing. Now I know my daughter is not perfect and sometimes she is to blame but she is not a mean child and I can only hear that so many times until I get really agitated with this little girl. My daughter likes to joke and kid around and the 5 year old can not deal with that. One day I took my daughter and the 5 year old to the mall and me and my daughter were laughing and the 5 year old got so angry, closed her ears and shouted in this angry voice "stop laughing...I hate the sound of laughter!" It sounds awful but I truly cannot stand to be around this little girl. I would like to know why she might act this way and I would also like to know how I can distant this girl from my daughter without hurting my friends feelings. Thank you so much for any advice you can give me.
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My middle child is 5 and struggling with feeling left out. His older brother, 8, finds him annoying and often chooses not to play with him. He has become very whiny.
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