How do I stop toy throwing? My son is two and he is becoming a real terror. He throws his toys and anything else in reach down the stairs (over the gate). I’ve tried a whole variety of tactics – being nice, telling him off firmly, smacking his hand, shouting, confiscating the toys, and even ignoring him. But he’s completely unmoved. In fact, he laughs. The problem is, he’s causing real damage. I think the problem is attention-seeking, as it seems to happen when I’m going to the toilet or getting dressed, but how do I stop it? There are two simple ways to solve this problem. First, allocate a…

Dealing with a sensitive child. What is the best approach to have with my two and half year old? My two-and-a-half year old daughter has always been a very emotional and sensitive child. She bursts into tears for the slightest reason. For instance, if she can’t find the right piece for the jigsaw, she falls over or someone speaks sharply, she gets hysterical unless she is picked up and cuddled. My husband and I are having major rows over how to deal with this. I feel we have to toughen her up a bit before she starts nursery at three years old, but my husband disagrees and says that it…

Thomas, who is 2yrs 7mths won’t let me wash his hair. Since our son Thomas was about 18 months old, it has been a real struggle to wash his hair. He has always moaned, but now it has developed into a battle where he will kick and scream, especially during the rinsing stage. I have bought different types of halos, but after a few sessions he still protests. He is now 2 years 7 months, but shows no sign of getting any better. Have you any ideas on how to make this time of the week less stressful? Toddlers and small children often find having their hair washed an uncomfortable…

My three year old rules the house. My daughter Emily-Jo is getting worse by the day. It’s getting to the point that my husband and I are arguing about her all the time. She is constantly demanding things she wants, and never stops until we give in to her. This behavior could go on and on for days. She never listens to us, and always manages to get her own way. I have tried to calm her down, but nothing works. She doesn’t sleep well so that does not help either. She is currently under hospital supervision as my health visitor thought that she might have signs of “ADHD”, but…

My 26-month-old daughter demands juice all day and has tantrums a lot. My daughter is, and always has been, very strong willed. She was a good eater up until the age of 13 months when she refused to be spoon fed. She was having 2 bottles of milk a day and slept all night and had 2 naps during the day. She ate a limited variety of finger foods for 6 months (e.g. organic baby bars, bread & butter, rusks, sausages and anything sweet). One day she started eating with a spoon and tucked in to fromage frais, porridge and fruit puree. Slowly she started eating toast, fish fingers, potato…

My son of 3yrs 4mths has started to bite at playschool. What should I do to stop this behavior and also his visits to me in the night? My son has really been a CLB from the word go. He had an excellent routine, ate and slept with no problems at all. He started playschool in August which he loves. At the beginning of term, there were two little kids there who were biting and my son seemed to be at the receiving end of these bites. However, now since October, my son has now started biting. It is clearly if another child tries to take something away from him…

I am concerned about my son of 26mths who has started head banging when settling himself to sleep. My little boy is now 26 months old and for the past 2 months on and off he has been head banging at night and occasionally to get himself off to sleep at his lunchtime nap. My health visitor says it is perfectly normal and to ignore him and he should grow out of it. I have done this until the last week when it has got so bad. Some nights he might only wake a couple of times and stop banging after a minute or so and go back to sleep…

My 2.5yr old is well behaved at nursery but once he is home he becomes very boisterous and wild. I returned to full time work when my son was 18mths old. We have found a lovely nursery for him which he enjoys going to every day. The staff there often comment how well behaved and co operative he is. But I never see this. I pick him up at 4.30pm and he is full of beans. As soon as we return home he seems to turn into a different child. He becomes very hyperactive, rushing around and demanding my attention but then not really listening to me. I need to…