Q. My sons are fighting a lot these days. At 10 and 12, I thought they would be over this behaviour. How do I stop them without beating them?

A. You simply need to state the rules of your home clearly with regard to fighting. Let your sons know what the punishment will be and be consistent with your punishment. Remember you must mean what you say.

My Husband shouts at my daughter

At 16, my daughter has an excellent analytical brain, but she is emotionally fragile. My husband keeps shouting at her to grow up. How can I tell him to stop?

Remind your husband that, even though your daughter is book smart, she is still a normal 16-year-old who can be very touchy about anything. Ask him to be patient with her. If your husband does not listen to you, ask a family member or close friend to explain it to him.

Housekeeper's 10-y-o keeps visiting on her own

My housekeeper's 10-year-old daughter visits our house even when her mother does not come to work. They live about a mile away. Many times we have to take her home. How can we get her to stop?

Speak with her mother and let her know that you are not comfortable with this behaviour. Let your housekeeper know that it is important for you to have your special family time. Ask her to speak with her daughter about the inappropriate visiting behaviour.

Orlean Brown-Earle, PhD, is a child psychologist and family therapist. Dr Brown-Earle works with children with learning and behaviour problems throughout the island and in the Caribbean. Email questions to helpline@gleanerjm.com or send to Ask the Doc, c/o The Gleaner Company, 7 North Street, Kingston. Responses to concerns are to be considered as general, as cases shared with psychologists privately would be queried more deeply. Pray always!