Q. I teach my child to be outspoken so I can ensure she tells me about any danger she may be in when I am not around.

But now I am not sure where to draw the line when sometimes she is too much and can be embarrassing. What do I do?

A. Let your daughter know that there are times to speak up and times to be silent. You need to set some rules for when you are out in public. You can give your daughter cues or hints when she starts to get out of control. If she does not respond, you then follow through on the punishment for breaking the rules. Be patient with your child.

Q. My son, at 13, is still functioning like a six-year-old. He had some seizures as a child. Could this have caused brain damage?

A. Seizures occur when there is abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Previous brain damage can be the cause of a seizure. A seizure can damage the brain if it is severe. Brain damage can also come from a patient falling during a seizure. You need to get your child into a special programme so he can learn some skills.

Q. There is a child in my class who regularly sucks his teeth for everything - good and bad. How can I get him to stop?

A. You need to be firm when you share with your student that his behaviour is not appropriate, You can start a reward programme for him to motivate him to exhibit the right 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!