My child won't dress himself!

It's ten minutes before the school bell rings and once again your child is still at home, perched defiantly on the edge of the bed, cross-armed and still pyjama-ed.

A clean uniform sits untouched on the dresser-top.

Right now, it's tempting to think it might be quicker to dress them yourself. Avoid this, and instead address the core issue. Is this a ploy to get attention, to avoid school or just out-and-out poor behaviour?

First thing to remember is that all children of school age are old enough to dress themselves. Many children begin dressing themselves much earlier.

So if they can get dressed, why won't they?

Start by talking. Sometimes there's a good reason for stalling; anxiety about schoolwork, teasing from students and even bullying can be factors. Try to find out before you fly off the handle.

If you're satisfied there's nothing wrong at school, remember; your child will respond better to positive reinforcement than threats. Reward good behaviour with surprises and treats, rather than punishing non-compliance.

("If you're ready on time, we'll have time for a hot chocolate on the way!")

Finally, children just don't have our sense of the importance of time. They're fascinated by the present and in what they are doing right now. Some kids just take longer to get ready. So wake them up 15 minutes earlier. Some parents even swear by having their kids dressed the night before and letting them sleep in their uniforms!