Ask a Child Psychologist

common questions asked by parents

I’m Worried I’m Projecting My Own Trauma Onto My Daughter. Any Advice?

“I’m worried about the amount of my own trauma I'm projecting onto my 7-year-old daughter…I’ve noticed that my daughter and I sometimes have similar responses; in myself, I recognize them as trauma responses. I’m wondering whether they are the same for her, or if they’re just learned behaviors to get her way?”

March 1, 2022

How Can I Help Improve Communication Between My Daughter and Her Stepfather?

“My 9-year-old daughter recently started behaving defiantly toward my husband, her stepfather. She puts her father on a pedestal and will not give her stepdad a chance to even be a friend. Do you have any advice for how to communicate with her better and reduce the tension in our home?”

February 22, 2022

My 3-Year-Old Grandson is Behaving Aggressively Toward Other Children. What Can I Do?

“My 3-year-old grandson, who I have custody of, is hitting other children and hurting them by throwing toys at their heads. He won’t follow any rules or sit still. This has been happening at daycare since the end of August. Currently, he’s suspended from daycare and may soon be expelled. I just don’t know what to do. Can you help?”

February 15, 2022

How Can I Help My Daughter Deal with the Recent Absence of Her Father?

“How can I help my daughter cope with her father leaving and abandoning us? She misses him quite often, and I do my best to explain to her what happened but I know it’s a tough concept for her to grasp. I just want to know what else I can do to help her deal with everything.”

February 8, 2022

My 10-Year-Old Son Struggles to Express His Anger and Anxiety Constructively. Any Advice?

One mom asked us for tips for how to help her child express anger, and wondering whether it was related to anxiety or a recent parental separation. Here’s some advice from our child mental health experts.

February 1, 2022

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