carolyn gatzke

carolyn | girl wars in kindergarten

March 1, 2010

In recent weeks I have been approached three times about conflict between little girls.  I am not talking 10 year-olds when the Queen Bee dynamic is firmly in play, but dominance, exclusion, and tests or games to determine friendships between four, five and six year-olds. Now, anyone who has spent time with four-year-olds knows that [...]

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carolyn | when a child hits or kicks a parent

February 22, 2010

When my child doesn’t get his way, sometimes he will strike out at me, either kicking me or hitting me, and/or using angry words (”If you don’t let me do XYZ, I won’t ABC!!”).  I try to stay calm and explain that I won’t let him hurt me, but I would love some suggestions on [...]

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carolyn | my oldest son is regressing, help!

January 24, 2010

My three year old was doing really well with his new baby brother up until the last month. He was almost potty trained. He always did no. 2 in the potty and always stayed dry at school. He also was so nice at sharing toys. Now he doesn’t want his little brother to touch his [...]

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carolyn | my preschool son wants a princess bike

January 18, 2010

My 3 ½ year-old-son wants a princess bike for Christmas.  I have no objection to his preference, but want to purchase a bike that will last for a few years.  He rode a black bike at the store and loved it.  When we came home, he reiterated his desire for a princess bike.  Should I [...]

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carolyn | new place, new routine

January 1, 2010

For the question at hand, check out the previous post {HERE} Wow, what a big move. It is hard for me to imagine that transition as an adult, it must be really difficult for a toddler, who not only has the effects of travel and adjustment to a new space, but picks up the stress [...]

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carolyn | what is he saying?!

December 23, 2009

My son keeps asking for help and getting frustrated because I don’t know what he’s talking about – he’s just standing there asking for help. If you used more than just the word, “Help?” to describe what you need assistance with, I’d be more inclined to help!? WHAT DO YOU NEED??? AHHH, 2 year olds… [...]

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carolyn | gift giving frenzy and the forgotten thank you

December 7, 2009

by Carolyn Gatzke on December 4th, 2009 | Originally posted on EngageToday.com How do you prepare/handle a three-year-old for mass gift opening–while teaching them to be thankful. For example, the rip open a bag/gift to find the cutest outfit.  They, however, throw it to the side. In my ideal world they would finish unwrapping the [...]

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carolyn | mom vs. grandma

December 3, 2009

How do you advise parents to deal with grandparents whose habits go against parents’ rules?  I’m thinking, for example, of toy guns (if parents don’t permit them), perhaps movies that are a little too mature, sugary cereal, etc.  Some parenting experts seem to advocate an “anything goes at Grandma’s” approach; others feel that the lapse [...]

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carolyn | getting your first born ready for the arrival of twins

November 29, 2009

I am only a few weeks away from delivering my twin boys. We have a four year old and I just want to make sure that he will be prepared for their arrival as well. What can I do to make sure he won’t feel totally left out or sad. Thanks! Congratulations on the upcoming [...]

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carolyn | can i give my baby a lovey?

November 22, 2009

When is it safe to give my baby a lovey in his bed at night?? My son is 6 months old and I want to get him hooked on a blankie or a stuffed animal. Or both like my 3 year old. He has a blankie and a stuffed goat named Chivo (his first Spanish [...]

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carolyn | early terrible two’s

November 15, 2009

I think Madelyn is starting to full-force hit her terrible 2s @ 17 months… I mean, she’s been throwing fits for about 4 or 5 months now, but last night takes the cake. She threw the motherload fit for 2 HOURS! I wanted to pack my bags and leave – everything I did p’d her [...]

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carolyn | a game plan for a happy halloween

October 28, 2009

Like most children, I loved Halloween  in spite of the fact that my mother always made me wear a sweater that ruined my costume and wouldn’t let me carry a pillow-case as a sack like all the cool kids, because she thought it looked greedy.  As an adult, Halloween  confounds me –  costumed children going [...]

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carolyn | response to friend in need, fecal artistry

October 22, 2009

In response to the scary pictures we posted earlier this week regarding my girlfriend’s daughter, who enjoys flinging her poop around, Carolyn Gatzke has come to the rescue! {If you haven’t seen the pics click on the link above, you gotta see it to believe it!} One of my clients referred, not-so-affectionately, to this happening as [...]

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carolyn q & a | co-sleeping

October 12, 2009

I have a 13mo that is still sleeping in my bed for the majority of the night. It is our fault, as we travel 80% of the time and up to this point she hasn’t spent a lot of time in her crib. I have also created the habit of nursing her to sleep–horrible I [...]

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need supernanny? hhm parenting expert will answer your questions

September 21, 2009

ASK CAROLYN! We are excited to start our Q&A series with parenting expert, Carolyn Gatzke, you can see her first set of questions today!  At times we all feel like we need help, I don’t care how many kids you have, or how well behaved they are, no child or parent is perfect. I am [...]

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carolyn | q & a with our parenting expert

September 20, 2009

Carolyn Gatzke, Answering your Questions:   How do I explain body piercing to my child without passing judgment, but also not condoning it?   Our children are growing up in such a diverse world that heaping judgment on those who present or believe differently from our own families can inhibit children’s ability to socialize, integrate, [...]

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carolyn | allowing natural consequences

September 13, 2009

  I am a believer in the teaching power of natural consequences.  I know that after an evening spent shivering at a ballgame, I take a sweater to the next event .  If I forget something I need at work and suffer the frustration of being ill prepared, I take immediate steps to improve my organizational skills.   And yet, when children [...]

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carolyn | frontloading

September 6, 2009

We all like a surprise every now and then, and we are all sometimes forced to deal with a disruption, but generally it’s nice to know what to expect each day.  Adults have the ability to plan and infer, children, mostly, have to go along for the ride.  If you want a smoother trip, you need to frontload your [...]

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carolyn | if children are going to use their words, they must be given words to use

August 30, 2009

Everyone with children knows, kids cry.  A lot.  It can’t be avoided.  It’s developmental.  Before they can talk they cry, and after they have words they cry.  They cry when they are sad, frustrated, angry, and tired.  Sometimes their crying escalates to full-blown, lay on the floor, red-in-the-face tantrums.  Kids are rarely inhibited by onlookers [...]

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carolyn | the ups-and-downs of the early years

August 23, 2009

If you have a child of at least three, you have likely experienced a morning when you greeted a little one, once smiling and serene, who had suddenly become whiny and willful.  You likely checked for fever, or budding teeth, and then after several days of challenging behavior, decided that something had gone terribly wrong [...]

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