Martha (Marti) Farrel Erickson
Biography
Articles
Child Abuse
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Did you know that over 800,000 children are abused each year in the United States? And... [more]
Teen Depression and Suicidal Writings
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: We've discovered that our 15-year-old son recently has written several stories and [more]
Repeating Your Parents Mistakes With Your Children
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: In my childhood my mom constantly criticized and nagged me about all the things I did wro [more]
Holiday Spirit
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: With the holidays coming up, our preschool-age children are bombarded with messages, es [more]
Busy Six-Year-Old
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: I have a 6-year-old daughter whom I want to keep busy with activities. How much is too [more]
A Child's Defiance
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: I am exhausted by my daughter's resistance to everything I ask her to do. It seems that [more]
Teaching Kids Early On About Responsibility
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQUESTION: Too many kids today seem to take things for granted, assuming adults will give th [more]
Kids and Sleeping Problems
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQUESTION: What should a parent do if a school-age child can't seem to go to sleep before midnight, [more]
Managing Frustration and Building Sports Skills
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQUESTION: Our six-year-old son wants to do everything perfectly right away, especially sports. He [more]
Dealing With Whining
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQUESTION: My four-year-old seems to whine all the time, to the point where I want to scream every [more]
Leaving Children Alone at Home
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: I take care of my six-year-old daughter as a single father on the weekends. I lea [more]
Parental Angry Outbursts at Children
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: I'm a single dad in a serious dating relationship with a woman who is wonderful i [more]
Too Many Sweets
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: My mother-in-law takes care of our three-year-old daughter while we are at work, [more]
Children Up to the Task of Caring for Pets
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: My kids, who are 8 and 10 years old, are begging for a puppy. They say they'll be [more]
Children Keep Losing Things
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: Both of my kids seem to have a chronic problem with losing things. Every da [more]
Potty Training
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Mar tha EricksonQUESTION: My 3-year-old daughter has been potty trained for several months, but in the past two w [more]
Children Sharing Divided Attention
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson.QUESTION: I recently started providing child care in my home for two children, ages 1 and [more]
Setting Family Rules in Time for a Newborn
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson.QUESTION: We're expecting a baby in two months and I'm worried about how to protect him fr [more]
Explaining Your Absence During Active Duty to Your Children
October 14, 2001Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson.QUESTION: My Army Reserve unit is being called into active dut [more]
Teachable Moments for Children About the Trade Center Attacks
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson.The dust has begun to settle from the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and we're... [more]
Helping Children Understand Death
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson.QUESTION: My husband's father is very ill and is expected to live for only a few more mont [more]
Back to School Experiences
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson.As school resumes it's time for all parents to remember how important we are to our children's success [more]
How to Get Children to Listen
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: My seven-year-old son never seems to listen to anything I say. My directions and warnin [more]
Back to School Materialism
August 12, 2001Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: As our kids head back to school, they are hammering at [more]
Power Struggles with Children's Homework
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: Our daughter's school sent home a list of math and reading skills to practice dur [more]
Deciding to Stay at Home
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: How should a mother decide whether or not to stay home and care for her children [more]
Summer Camp
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: Our 10-year-old daughter has always been somewhat shy and uneasy a [more]
Mother's Negative Feelings Towards Ex-husband May Have Rubbed Off on Daughter
Taken From: Growing Concerns - A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: My ex-husband recently remarried and he and his new wife are scheduled to take our 8-ye [more]
Child's Friends: Two's Company, Three's a Crowd?
Taken From: Growing Concerns- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Marth EricksonQuestion: My son often exchanges play dates with two boys from his preschool, brothers who are a ye [more]
Curfews
Taken from: Growing Concerns- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Marth EricksonQuestion: Every time our 16-year-old daughter goes out, we seem to get into a battle over what time [more]
Child Afraid of the Dark
Taken from: Growing Concerns- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: Several times lately our 4-year-old has gotten all worked up at night, claiming there's [more]
Guidance Dealing with Children's Friends
Taken from: Growing Concerns- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonSeveral readers have asked me for guidance when it comes to issues involving their children's friends.... [more]
Allowance
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: What is a good guideline for giving kids allowances? Should they g [more]
Unsupervised Child
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: Our next-door neighbor's child behaves very badly and seems to be unsupervised much of the [more]
How to Overcome Child's Far of Bees
Taken from: Growing Concerns- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: My 6-year-old niece recently went on a canoeing trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, [more]
How to Make School a Good Experience for Kids
Taken from: Growing Concerns- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: What can I do to make school a good experience for my child?Answer: [more]
Grocery Store Hassles
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson October 10, 1999One of the most common questions I hear from parents of young children is how to get... [more]
Bathtime Struggles
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:Recently our 4-year-old has been very resistant to taking a bath. E [more]
Girl-Boy Parties
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:Our daughter will turn 12 in a few weeks, and she's very excited ab [more]
Being Too Hard or Too Soft with Kids
Taken from: Growing Concerns- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: My wife keeps telling me that I give in to everything our kids want and that I'm never [more]
Ease Child's Fears When Entering Public School
Taken from: Growing Concerns- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: My son has attended a private preschool and kindergarten the past three years and has g [more]
Kids and Limits on Materialism
Taken from: Growing Concerns- A childrearing question-and-answer column by Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: As our kids head back to school, they are hammering at us to buy them all the latest cloth [more]
Three-Year-Old Still Sucks Her Thumb
Taken from: Growing Concerns- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: My daughter is 3 and still sucks her thumb. I've read a bit on the subject of getting he [more]
Son is Couch Potato
Taken from: Growing Concerns- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: Our 9-year-old son is a real couch potato who wants to spend all of his free time watchi [more]
Dealing with Inappropriate Comments from Children
Taken from: Growing Concerns- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: Recently, I was at the doctor's office with my 3-year-old when a very heavy man and his [more]
Father's Day
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: I'm a single male who just read your article entitled "Many Ignore Child Abuse Due to Lack [more]
Getting Kids Ready in the Morning
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:Getting my four-year-old off to child care and myself off to work h [more]
Different Parent Techniques
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson Question: My husband and I are at odds about how to raise our 3-year-old son. We come from differen [more]
When to Give up the Blanket
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:Our five-year-old son, who just started kindergarten, is outgoing a [more]
Too Young for Sleepovers
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:Our second-grader is talking about having sleepovers, but we're not [more]
Can't Afford Gift Child Wants
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: Our 11-year-old son has been carrying on about a new video game that he wants for Christma [more]
Summer Trips
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: It's summer vacation time, and we're still feeling the sti [more]
Long Distance Dad
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: I have just accepted a new job that will require me to be [more]
Thanksgiving Rituals
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: Thanksgiving is fast approaching and I am thinking about family rituals. Why are family ri [more]
Breastfeeding vs. Bottle Feeding
Taken From: Growing Concerns- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: I have a 3-week-old baby boy whom I tried to breastfeed. But despite lots of effort an [more]
Kids, Chrisrtmas Presents, and the Economy
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQUESTION: My husband was laid off a few months ago, and we're on a much tighter budget than we've [more]
Kids and Valentines
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:With Valentine's Day approaching, I'm concerned that we might have [more]
Celebrate as Kids
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha EricksonQuestion: My brothers see the 4th of July as a time for loud (and illegal) fireworks, too much beer, [more]
How to Combat Holiday Greed
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:With the holidays coming up, our preschool age children are bombard [more]
Realistic Christmas Expectations
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: Every year we get so excited about our family Christmas, but somehow when it actually happ [more]
Halloween Questions
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: Our kids are 3, 6 and 9. With Halloween coming up, we have several questions: When are kid [more]
Young Babysitters
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota.Question:A 12-year-old neighbor has expressed interest in babysitting our two [more]
Outgrowing Babysitters
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:Our 12-year-old son says he's too old to have a babysitter when we' [more]
Transition to Child Care
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: In a few weeks, I will be returning to my job outside the home and will be putting my 10-m [more]
Guidelines for Finding Good Childcare
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson Question: In a few months my wife will return to work after a year offto care for our second chi [more]
Daycare Guilt
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: How can I make the drop-off easier at daycare? My two-year [more]
Pressure on Stay- at-Home Moms
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:I work full time, and my wife stays home to care for our kids, who [more]
Healthy Marriage Examples
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: Our children are 12 and 14 years old and beginning to get interest [more]
Time Alone Away From Baby
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson Question: The spark is gone! In the four months since our daughter was born, my wife and I have had [more]
Strong Marriage
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: We have an eight-month-old baby who screams every time I w [more]
Parents-To-Be Disagree
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: We're expecting our first child in four months. Although w [more]
How to Help Children Entertain Themselves
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: I took this summer off work so I could stay home with my two children (7 and 8 years ol [more]
Learning to Ride a Bike
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson.QUESTION: Our 9-year-old son does well in school, is well liked, and excels in several spo [more]
Helping a Selfish Child
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: Our 2-year-old is becoming really selfish and demanding. Especially when it involves fo [more]
Holidays on a Budget
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha EricksonQuestion: Our kids (ages 8 and 10) already are talking excitedly about all the things they want for C [more]
Monster in the Closet
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: Several times lately our four-year-old has gotten all worked up at night, claiming there's [more]
Tattling Son
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota Question: Our seven-year-old son is always running to one of us to ta [more]
Complaining Kids
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: When our 10-year-old comes home from school, he dumps on us a barrage of complaints about [more]
Kids and Lying
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: Lately we have caught our daughter telling lies. I don't know if t [more]
Vandalism Consequences
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: My children recently broke some pottery garden sculptures in our next-door neighbors' back [more]
Summer Boredom
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: On days when our eight-year-old is home, he often complains that he's bored. Especially du [more]
Gender Identity
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:My three-and-a-half-year-old daughter keeps insisting she's a boy. [more]
Summer TV
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: With summer approaching, I'm worried about how to manage my kids' TV viewing. There is alo [more]
Dining Out
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson Question: Once a week we meet my in-laws for dinner at a nice restaurant near their apartment. T [more]
That Man's Fat
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: Recently I was at the doctor's office with my 3-year-old when a very heavy man and his chi [more]
Thumb Sucking
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: My daughter is 3 1/2 and still sucks her thumb. I've read a bit on the subject of getting [more]
Pots and Pans as Toys
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: We have bought all kinds of great toys for our toddler, but most of the time she ignores t [more]
Teaching Gratitude
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. As the holiday season gets into full-swing, I have been thinking about how to raise... [more]
Children and Gifts
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:Recently I was terribly embarrassed and upset when my six-year-old [more]
A Biting Two-Year-Old
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson Question: Recently our 2-year-old daughter has been biting people, and we're wondering what we can [more]
Tattling
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson Question: After we leave our 6- and 7-year-old kids with a babysitter, they each bombard us with ta [more]
Pets for Kids
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson Question: Our kids are begging for a kitten or a puppy but we're not sure they're ready for pet own [more]
Grocery Shopping With Three-Year-Old
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson Question: On Saturdays I take our 3-year-old grocery shopping while my wife has some time to hersel [more]
Nine-Year-Old's Wardroobe
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:Our nine-year-old daughter is crazy about Britney Spears and wants [more]
Spoiling Children - Part 2
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. In my last Growing Concerns column I gave the first part of a two-part answer to the... [more]
Spoiling Children - Part 1
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:I have a five-month-old boy and a two-year-old daughter and my mom [more]
Potty Training
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:I'm trying to potty train my 2 1/2-year-old-son. He has used the to [more]
Cousins and Sharing
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: My sister and I get together often with our kids, who are both alm [more]
Getting Kids to Put Away Toys
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson Question: We are trying to teach our two preschool children that they must put their toys away when [more]
Son Interrupts Important Work at Home
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: My husband and I both work outside the home and often end up doing paperwork or taking bus [more]
Potty Talk
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: My preschool son is into potty talk, and it's driving me crazy. He is constantly making st [more]
Resistance to Bathing
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson Question: Recently our 4-year-old has been very resistant to taking a bath. Every evening when I te [more]
Dealing with Telling Lies
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson Question: Lately we have caught our daughter telling lies. I don't know if this is a sign that some [more]
Learning More Civilized Behavior
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: Once a week we meet my in-laws for dinner at a nice restaurant near their apartment. Th [more]
Children and Guns
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: We decided when our son was born that we would not have to [more]
Children and Forgetfulness
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: Should a parent be concerned when a 10-year-old almost alw [more]
Lying Preschooler
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: Our son is almost four years old and he's developed a patt [more]
Neighborhood Bullies
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: There is a boy on our block who is a terrible bully with c [more]
Retaliation
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: Judging from your son's response to the biting toddler, I [more]
Vegetarian Son
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: Our 16-year-old son has decided to be a vegetarian. We're worried that he won't get enough [more]
Bickering Children and Frustrated Parents
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Mar tha EricksonQUESTION: Our kids, ages 4 and 5, are driving us crazy with their constant bickering and f [more]
Jealous of a New Baby
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: My three-year-old son was a pretty easy child until our second baby was born 14 months ag [more]
Helping Your Child to Organize
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: Our daughter is a first grader, six-and-a-half years old, and she takes foreve [more]
Tips on the Morning Rush
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: It's been an easy summer with a babysitter coming to the house each day as my husband and [more]
Talking to Kids about Cancer
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:I'm a single mother just beginning treatment for cancer. Doctors sa [more]
Time Out for Video Games
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:We're struggling with an issue regarding time limits on the TV and [more]
Adoption
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: Four months ago we adopted a two-year-old boy. He often wa [more]
Bad Case of the Baby Blues
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: My sister recently had a baby, and now she seems to have a bad case of the "baby blues." I [more]
Monster Under the Bed
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: Several times lately our four-year-old has gotten all worked up at night, claiming that th [more]
Kids Scared by Kidnapping News
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: Our children have been terribly distressed lately by the news stories about kids being kid [more]
Kids and Moving
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: We've purchased a new home in a nearby suburb and will mov [more]
Teasing
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: In our family's religion we do not celebrate Christmas, bu [more]
Halloween Fun
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson.Question:With Halloween approaching, several parents have raised questions about guideline [more]
Going to Camp
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson Question: My 7-year-old is asking about going away to camp, but I'm not sure that he's old enough. [more]
Video Games:
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: Almost every day after school, our nine-year-old son locks [more]
Questions Policymakers Must Ask to Ensure All Kids Get a Chance to Become Masters of Literacy
Discussions about children's literacy - or, more broadly, about academic achievement - usually revolve around what schools can do to close the gap between children who are "successful" and those who... [more]
Helping Children Manage Their School Work
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: My son, who just started 5th grade, is bringing home a lot of homework and already seem [more]
Preparing for Starting Kindergarten
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: My son will start kindergarten this fall, and I'm starting to worry about whether he ha [more]
Transition from Day Care to School
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: Our daughter has been in a family day care home since she was a year old, but in a few [more]
Encouraging Reading
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:My seven-year-old son loves math but says reading is boring. I have [more]
Support the Arts
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Remember the first time you watched your baby fall asleep to the sound of a lullaby? Or the time your... [more]
Positive Female Role Playing
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:My five-year-old daughter loves playing with her Barbie dolls. What [more]
Reading Readiness
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson Question: My child will start school next fall. He already knows all of his letters and can say [more]
Homework Headaches
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:Our fifth grader has always been a pretty good student, but this ye [more]
Homeschooling Headaches
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:I am home-schooling my four children, ages 10, eight, seven and fou [more]
New School
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:My son has attended a private preschool and kindergarten for the pa [more]
Holding Child Back a Year
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson Question: Our son, who will turn six in June, is in a private kindergarten at the same place he att [more]
Ready for Kindergarten
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: Our son will enter kindergarten next fall, so each day I s [more]
Shyness and Entering a New School
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: Our daughter (who will enter 4th grade this fall) is extremely shy and slow to warm up [more]
Stealing
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:We were visiting my cousin's family in another city over the weeken [more]
Alternatives to Abuse
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: I'm a single male who just read your article entitled "Many Ignore Child Abuse Due to Lack [more]
Naughty Neighbor Child
GROWING CONCERNS - December 29, 1997 A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota Question: Our next-door neighbor's child behaves very badly and... [more]
Spanking -- Yes or No?
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: We are new parents who are being inundated with advice about how to care for our child. T [more]
Losing Self
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: Since my kids were born I've felt as though I've lost myself. I was taught that parents ne [more]
School Age Child Can't Sleep
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: What should a parent do if a school-age child can't seem to go to sleep before midnight, e [more]
Play vs. Academic Demands for Young Children
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: Our 3-year-old son is in a childcare center that he absolutely loves. But it is very mu [more]
Delayed Siblings
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: We recently watched a video of when my now 4-year-old daughter was 19 months old. It was a [more]
Primary Caregivers
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:I take care of our baby when my wife goes to class two nights a wee [more]
Shopping with Friends
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:Our daughter is clamoring to be allowed to go shopping at the mall [more]
Mature Enough to Babysit
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: A neighbor has asked our 11-year-old daughter to baby-sit for her young child, and our dau [more]
Sexual Curiosity
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: I've recently started doing child care in my home for several young children and I've obse [more]
Early Interest in the Opposite Sex
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: Our son, who is a sixth-grader, came home recently saying that he's "going with" a girl i [more]
Children Acting Out Gender Roles
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: My four-year-old daughter always seems to want to dress up and play bride or princess, act [more]
Summer Camps
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. This time of year, I hear from many parents who are anticipating the... [more]
Behavior Changes
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: My nine-year-old son (a third grader) was always a sweet, [more]
Kids on a Plane Trip
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson Question: We will be taking a long plane trip with our 10-month-old daughter and 3-year-old son thi [more]
Tips on Setting Allowances
GROWING CONCERNS - July 13, 1997 A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota Question: We have a blended family with five kids ranging in age fr [more]
Holiday Loss
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: Last winter our son died, and now we're sadly facing the first Christmas without him. W [more]
Talking With Children About Death
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: My husband's father is very ill and is expected to live for only a few more months. I'm r [more]
Grandfather Spanks
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: Recently my father spanked our two-year-old son when he tipped over a wastebasket after [more]
Grandmother: How to Help With Son's New Child Without Intruding
Taken from: Growing Concerns- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EriksonQuestion: I'm about to become a grandparent for the first time. I'm excited, but also a bit worried [more]
Grandparents and Authority
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: My mom visits us every few weeks and loves to spend time with our [more]
Advice for Grandparents
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha EricksonQuestion: I'm about to become a grandparent for the first time. I'm so excited, but also a bit worrie [more]
Moving Away
Taken from Growing Concerns --A childrearing question and answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson Question: I have no children, but I have been very close to my 6-year-old niece ever since she wa [more]
Mother-in-Law Meddling
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: My husband's mother will be living with us this summer, an [more]
Helping Children Through Divorce
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: My wife and I are getting a divorce and I'm very worried about how it will affect our ch [more]
Summer Far Away
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: My ex-husband has moved to another state with his new wife and the court has granted his r [more]
When Parents Seperate
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:My wife and I are going to begin a trial separation while we decide [more]
Divorce and Grandson
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: What can I do to help my eight-year-old grandson overcome [more]
Bullying
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: I'm concerned about the problem of bullying, which isn't getting any better. I've been [more]
Encourage New Teacher
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: Our son's second grade teacher seems to go crazy with a red pencil, marking every tiny [more]
Daycare to Kindergarten
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:My six-year-old son has had an extremely difficult transition this [more]
Child Embarrassed by Bodily Change
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: My 12-year-old daughter has begun menstruating. I told her all about it before it began [more]
Importance of Trust
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: We have forbidden our 12-year-old daughter to wear some of the popular but overly sexy [more]
How to Talk to Niece about Suicide Attempt
Taken from: Growing Concerns- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: My 14-year-old neice recently tried to commit suicide and is now hospitalized in a psych [more]
Teen Rejects Religion
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: We are very active in our church, but lately our 14-year-old daughter has been unsure she' [more]
Disordered Eating
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: I keep hearing how rampant eating disorders are among teenage girls, and already our 10-ye [more]
Tension and Adolescent Daughter
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson Question: Over the last few months my 12-year-old daughter and I have gotten to the point where we [more]
Hanging Out
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: Our teenagers (15 and 16) are great and we're delighted they have good friends who have go [more]
Prom Night
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson The next few weeks will be very special ones for many high school students around the country. Prom night... [more]
Teens and Work
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: I'm in a support group for parents of teenagers, and one of the issues we discussed lately [more]
Teen Curfew
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: Every time our sixteen-year-old daughter goes out we seem to get into a battle over what t [more]
Teenager's Financial Management
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson Question:Our daughter is a college student who seems to think money grows on trees. We put her on a [more]
Teen Dropping Friends
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson Question: Our 16-year-old son has recently stopped hanging out with kids he's been friends with for [more]
Kids Caught Drinking
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson Question: Recently a neighbor told me that she saw my 15-year-old son and his friend drinking beer. [more]
Teens and Tattoos
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: Our daughter and her friends recently got their bellybutto [more]
Irritable Teen
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: My wife and daughter always have been very close, but over [more]
Baby-Proof an Apartment
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:We just had our first child after several years of marriage, and we [more]
Car Seats
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: Our daughter, who just turned 3, has started making a fuss every time she is strapped into [more]
Are Baby Walkers Safe
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:A friend gave us a walker that they had when their child was a baby [more]
Encouraging Adventure or Being Careless with Safety
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: When my 2-year-old daughter starts to climb the backyard fence, I say, "Go Girl! You're sh [more]
Balancing Kids and School
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:I'm a single mom of two boys, ages four and five. During the day I [more]
The Terrible Twos
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: My 18-month-old son's favorite word is "no!" He's extremely active and into everything, [more]
Bathroom Humor
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota.Question:Our five-year-old son and his best friend from preschool seem to be [more]
Children and Play Guns
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:My three-year-old son seems to be obsessed with guns. He wants to d [more]
Learning to Share
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:My child will be three this summer and will begin attending a presc [more]
Tyrant Toddler
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson Question: My son was a very easygoing baby, but now that he's a toddler, he's much more rambunct [more]
How Much Candy
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota.Question:My wife and I are at odds in determining the amount of candy to give [more]
Dependant on a "Blankie"
GROWING CONCERNS - February 15, 1998 A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota Question: Our 14-month-old son drags his baby blanket everywhere.... [more]
Two-Year-Old Doesn't Nap
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: Although the child rearing books seem to say that 2-year-olds must have naps, recently my [more]
Sister's Kids and Mine Don't Get Along
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson Question: My sister and I get together often with our kids, who are both almost three. But the kids [more]
Toddler Misbehaves
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: When I take my 2-year-old daughter out to friends' homes, [more]
Commit to Children
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. As the new year approaches, many of us think about resolutions like eating right,... [more]
Teaching Kids to Deal with Teasing
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question:We recently moved to a small town, where our seven-year-old son ent [more]
Dealing with Grief at Holiday Time
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: Last winter our teenaged son died, and now we're sadly facing the [more]
Second Marriage
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson Question: I've been divorced for three years and plan to remarry this fall. My fiance and I each ha [more]
Suicide Signs
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: Recently a 14-year-old friend of our daughter attempted suicide. It seems the kids are glo [more]
Cool Down Before Lashing Out
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: I love my child more than anything else in the world, but sometimes I get so mad I actua [more]
Ground Rules for "Rent Free" Grandson
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: Recently our daughter and her husband moved to a small town, but their 19-year-old son w [more]
Helping a Child Through Trauma
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Mar tha EricksonQUESTION: My 2-year-old nephew had a serious accident at his childcare center and had to be in a [more]
Unsolicited Childrearing Advice
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: I have two children, ages 10 and 2. For years I have been inundated with people telling [more]
Sending Messages to Children
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota.Question:I'm concerned about the messages I may be sending to my kids. I want [more]
Should Child Call When Plans Change?
Taken From: Growing Concerns- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: My 13-year-old daughter and another girl were at a sleepover last night but got very ups [more]
Unwanted Advice
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: As new parents we find ourselves bombarded with unsolicited advice on how to take care of [more]
Bilingual Children
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: Spanish is my primary language, but my wife and most people around [more]
What to Say After Suicide Attempt
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson Question: My 14-year-old niece recently tried to commit suicide and now is hospitalized in a psychi [more]
Who Will Take Care of Kids?
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: My husband and I are thinking of writing our will. We are trying to decide who should take [more]
Baby Weight
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha EricksonQuestion: My mom is worried about my baby because she says he's too skinny. I say he's just fine, but [more]
Waking Infant
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: My 3-month-old baby is still not sleeping through the night. Even though I feed her right [more]
Talking to Baby
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: I'm concerned because my husband swears and talks roughly around our new baby. He promi [more]
Pacifier Use
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: My mother-in-law is very upset that my four-month-old uses [more]
Family Time
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: Our 12-year-old daughter always wants to be with friends instead of family. Even when w [more]
Making friends
GROWING CONCERNS: A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: My best friend and I have spent lots of time together with our son [more]
Parents Who Lost It
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson Question: Yesterday I saw a young mother really lose it with her toddler at the grocery store. The c [more]
Inactive Child
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota. Question: Our 9-year-old son is a real couch potato who wants to spe [more]
Child Behavior in Adult Company
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: Once a week we meet my in-laws for dinner at a nice restaurant near their apartment. Th [more]
Child Adjustment to New Family Arrangement
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: I've been divorced three years and plan to remarry this fall. My fiance and I each have [more]
Worried About Child Development
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: We recently watched a video of when our 4-year-old daughter was 19 months old. It was a [more]
Daughter is Boy Crazy
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: Our 7-year-old daughter comes home every week announcing that she is "in love" with som [more]
Mother and Daughter Argue
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson.Question: During the last few months my 12-year-old daughter and I have gotten to the point wher [more]
Child is Perfectionist
Taken from Growing Concerns -- A childrearing question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha EricksonQuestion: My 7-year-old daughter is such a perfectionist that it's making me crazy. She flips out [more]
