PARENTING PRIMER. Belonging
Four dances of misbehavior
Natural and logical consequences
Never do for a child what a child can do for herself
Punishments and rewards are old school
Take time for training (TTFT)
THE CLASSICS: A DEMOCRATIC APPROACH TO OVERCOMING THOSE TYPICAL TRIALS. Sulking
SLEEPING: THE DEMOCRATIC APPROACH TO GETTING WEE ONES TO WINKY LAND. Won't fall asleep unless parent lies with them
Wakes every few hours during the night
Crawls into your bed at night
Night terrors and nightmares
Comes out of room after being tucked in
POTTY TRAINING AND THE DEMOCRATIC APPROACH TO TOILETING. Holds bowels
Will only move bowels in a pull-up
Won't use the school washroom
Still pooping pats at age six, seven, eight or, yikes! nine
Still wetting bed at age seven (eight or nine)
FRETTING OVER FOOD: THE DEMOCRATIC APPROACH TO ENDING FOOD FIGHTS. The pokey eater
Will eat only if in front of the TV
FROM TROUGH TO TABLE: THE DEMOCRATIC APPROACH TO TABLE MANNERS. Won't set the table when it's their job
Won't come to the table when called
Gets up and down from the table
Who invited Tom Foolery to the table?
SOCIAL SKILLS: THE DEMOCRATIC APPROACH TO SOCIALIZING YOUR LITTLE BARBARIAN. Won't say hello
Won't say "please" and "thank-you"
Tells your company to go home
Curses and swears like a sailor
Doesn't play with friends invited over
You hate your child's friends
You think your child is being bullied
HEALTH< HYGIENE AND HIGH FASHION: THE DEMOCRATIC APPROACH TO MANAGING ONE'S BODY. Won't brush teeth
You can never get the ponytails right
Hates water and getting in the tub
Will only wear one favorite pair of pants... and they're dirty
Sticks hands in dirty diapers
Disagreements about wardrobe
Won't put on pajamas at bedtime
BAD HABITS: AND THE DEMOCRATIC APPROACH TO BREAKING THEM. Hair twirling
Loves eating glue, playdough, etc.
BEDROOM BRAWLS: AND THE DEMOCRATIC APPROACH TO SETTING SPACE ISSUES. Won't make bed in the morning
Won't put clothes in the laundry hamper
Won't let sibling into bedroom
Destroys bedroom during time-outs
Siblings share a room, but they're the odd couple
THE PLUGGED-IN KID: THE DEMOCRATIC APPROACH TO MANAGING THE WIRED WORLD. Inappropriate TV viewing
Acts aggressively after watching violence
Disregards screen-time limits
SCHOOL 101: THE DEMOCRATIC APPROACH TO ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL ISSUES AT SCHOOL. Has poor grades
Doesn't pay attention in class
Doesn't care about school or the subject matter
They're autocratic, we're democratic
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: THE DEMOCRATIC APPROACH TO MANAGE THE ANGST. The overscheduled child
Goes to lessons but won't practice
KIDS AND COINS: THE DEMOCRATIC APPROACH TO MONEY MATTERS. Mommy, but this is for me! ("Dammit" implied)
Complaining about the amount of allowance
SIBLING FIGHTING: THE DEMOCRATIC APPROACH TO ENDING IT. Sibling fighting cheat sheet
The physical factor: when siblings physically fight
My toddler is too rough with the baby
Name-calling and being mean
THE BEST PRACTICES DEMOCRATIC FAMILY CHECKLIST