Expert Q&A

My 6-year-old son lies about being sick to avoid school and other things he does not want to do. How do you discourage your child from continuing with this type of behavior in a healthy way?

You must address lying behavior assertively because this is a habit that can become serious. Tell him the story about the boy who cried wolf and explain how lying undermines trust in relationships. Encourage him to share the reasons he is avoiding school and his feelings in general. Work with his teacher on the underlying reasons for his avoidance and help him develop more effective social and emotional skills for handling stressful situations. If he has developed chronic physical complaints such as headaches or stomachaches, consult your pediatrician as well. Never let him stay home unless he has observable medical symptoms. If he does, require him to rest and skip all activities, making sure that it is not a rewarding experience to stay home. Six-year-old boys should prefer to be with their friends at school!

Dr. Patti Zomber is a child psychologist based in Marina del Rey, Calif. She has written numerous articles about parenting, and she is a contributing editor on NestleFamily.com as well as the editor of the Los Angeles Psychologist journal.

Please Note: This Expert Q&A feature is intended to impart general child development information and mealtime tips. This is not to take the place of medical consultation and you should consult your doctor for medical advice or services.

Recent Advice

Vacations are great, but not for my waistline. How can I keep up my fitness routine away from home?

My kids are bored with traditional breakfast foods like eggs and oatmeal. What are some fun things I could serve that would still get them off to a good start?

My 8-year-old would spend hours in the pool if I let her, but I’m worried about all the chemicals in the water. Are they harmful?

My son only eats unhealthy foods and seeks out sugar items whenever possible (and often when we're not around!). I know I should get the bad-to-eat items out of the house, but I have two older kids and no cooperation from my spouse. What can I do?

My son’s sleepaway camp is recommending that all campers get meningitis shots. Is this really necessary?

How do you get underweight kids between ages 5 and 6 to eat more?

No matter how hard I try, I always rush through dinner so I can help my kids with their homework and I end up overeating before I even realize I’m full. How can I prevent this?

Our family is so busy, I often don’t have time to cook at home. Is fast food really that bad for my family?

My 6-year-old daughter sleeps 10 hours a night, but it’s still hard for her to get up! In the morning, she gets upset and won’t eat breakfast (but as soon as she’s on the bus, she’s fine!). What can I do?

My daughter has been getting bad headaches ever since she started middle school last year. She gets about two or three a month. Should I be worried?

My son, who’s 11, has always been average in height and weight, but this year, he’s dropped far below average. Will he catch up again?

My child needs to have surgery next month. How can I prepare her for it?

My kids have after-school activities every day of the week. What kind of snack will give them the energy boost they need to make it until dinner?

My 12-year-old wants to become a vegetarian. How can I make sure he still has a balanced diet?

My daughter had a bronchial infection that caused her to have asthma symptoms. Does this mean she will always have asthma?

My 6-year-old son is getting chubby, and I’m getting worried. What can I do to prevent him from becoming obese?

My 12-year-old daughter was exposed to chickenpox while baby-sitting, but she never had it when she was young. How likely is she to catch it at her age, and what can we do to keep her from getting it?

My 7-year-old has suddenly started waking up several times a night. What can we do to stop this?

How long do children have to brush their teeth to get them really clean?

I often find myself forgetting little things. Is there anything my husband and I can eat to keep our memories sharp?

Q. My daughter is turning 13 this year, and I’m wondering if she’s too old to go to a pediatrician.

I suffer from migraines, but I hate taking medication if I don’t have to. Is there anything else I can do to relieve the symptoms?

High cholesterol runs in my husband’s family, and I want to start preparing more heart-healthy meals for our own family. Can you suggest a strategy I can use?

I am a single mother of a 7-year-old boy who still sleeps in the bed with me. He seems to be afraid in his own bed, and I am not sure why. What should I do?

My kids hate veggies. (I don’t like them much either.) Do they really have to eat them to have a healthy diet?

My 5-year-old has such bad sunburn on his back that it’s started to blister. How do I treat it?

My daughter often complains of a tummy ache after drinking milk. Does this mean she’s lactose intolerant? If so, how can I still make sure she gets enough calcium?

I’ve been feeling down lately, and a friend suggested I try walking on my husband’s treadmill in the basement to boost my mood. She swears it cured her own depression. Could that possibly be true?