Childwise: Smart advice for Chattanooga parents by Mohsin Ali, M.D. Sister squabbles frustrate Mom Dear Childwise: I have two daughters, five years apart, who fight single day. They talk horribly to each other, and each one has announced that she hates the other one, although I have told them that I will not tolerate that [...]

“Go outside and play” a hard sell Dear Childwise: Do you have any suggestions for getting a child to go outside and play? I do the “good mom” thing and limit my son’s screen time to two hours (TV, computers, Game Boy, etc.), but he would almost always rather draw or read a book than [...]

Smart advice for Chattanooga parents I am going through a divorce and want to know how to help my children through this process. The path through divorce for children can vary greatly; its effect on each child is different, depending on the situation and the coping style of the child.  Although it is difficult to [...]

Just Fishin’ By Lu Lewis and Edna Varne Lu takes the helm in this article about spending quality time with our children Whether you’re a country fan in general or a Trace Adkins fan in particular, you should google the lyrics to his song, “Just Fishin’,” or YouTube it (Note our new 21st century verbs).  [...]

by Jas Milam, MAAT There are many applications for art therapy: relaxation/meditation, self expression, psycho education, self awareness, trauma relief and psychotherapy are just a few.  Art therapy can address physical, emotional and spiritual pain and can benefit people in hospitals, treatment centers, schools, and nursing homes.  It can both complement and pre-empt other therapeutic [...]

Is teen just “unhappy”—or depressed? Dear Childwise: My daughter is 14. She is a smart and pretty girl with lots of friends. She surprised me last week by telling me that she hasn’t been happy in “years” (since she’s been very young). She can’t explain why. Obviously I’m concerned, and I’m also surprised, because she [...]

Competitive sports set boy up for failure Dear Childwise: My son is a wonderful child with many talents, but he is not particularly athletic. To his credit, he does have an interest in sports and has continued to participate in rec sports. Often he’s among the least talented players on the team. (I hear other [...]

Pam Guess, PhD, NCSP Grandparents preside over Clean Plate Club Dear Childwise: When I take my children (ages 4 and 6) to their grandparents’ house, their grandparents make them sit at the table until they finish all the food on their plate. That’s the way I was raised, and I hated it, and at home [...]

Six-year-old hasn’t outgrown tantrums Dear Childwise, My son, who is 6, seems to have anger issues. When he was in kindergarten last year, I had to come to the principal’s office several times because he had kicked or swung at another child. (Not always the same one, and not always even another boy.) It always [...]

Mom stifled by child’s fearfulness Dear Childwise: I have a 4-year-old girl, “Amy.” She is fearful of so many things that it makes it hard to do things like take her to birthday parties or even out in lots of public places. For example, she’s terrified of balloons. She’s scared of anything that makes a [...]