Many of the complaints I hear from parents have to do with children’s irresponsibility and forgetful behavior. It usually begins early, around 4 or 5 years old, and peaks when a child hits junior high school. It’s critical that children learn to be self-reliant.

There are many reasons why children make excuses. However, it doesn’t help children manage themselves or make good choices. Don’t allow children to blame others for their actions or lack thereof.

Jealousy is an emotion that could discreetly come into your child’s life. The feeling could arise from a sibling, friends or classmates. A simple thing like a new bicycle for a friend could trigger envy in your child. The root of jealousy usually lies in the fact that the child does not feel like they are good enough.

Does your child always insist that they’re right and everyone else is wrong? Some kids have a bad habit of asserting their opinions by drowning out everyone else in the room. Children need to develop the habit of listening and obeying without arguing their point to exhaustion.

Whining is often the only way that young children can express themselves when they’re tired, cranky, hungry, uncomfortable or just don’t want to do something.

Children lie for many different reasons: when children make untrue statements with an intent to deceive, make it clear that it’s not okay. Most parents think children lie to get something they want, avoid a consequence or get out of something they don’t want to do.

There are over 225,000 words in the standard English dictionary with new words being added every day. Surely, children can learn to use words other than those that are demeaning and disgusting. Avoid laughing or getting angry. Stay calm and inform the child that this family does not use bad language.

Most children don’t want to clean because they don’t see value in it. Asking children to tidy up after themselves provides your child with not only responsibility but also self-respect and accountability.

Children aren’t born with the ability to imagine what it feels like to be in someone else’s shoes. Far from it: although most children will exhibit some signs of being ungrateful at various phases in life, make sure it doesn’t become permanent behavior.