Q: My 10-year-old son received a Game Boy for Christmas from his uncle. He played with it constantly. A couple of days later, he came to me sobbing and holding his Game Boy. The screen was broken and it was not working. He told me he was not doing as well as his cousins on the game and hit himself on the head with it. He was heartbroken and cried uncontrollably. It broke my heart to see him that way. He offered to use his own money to replace it, but it was not enough to buy a new one....

Q: I have caught my 7-year-old daughter in several lies lately. While playing outside, a planter got broken and she was the only one around. When I asked her if she broke the planter, she told me she had not. Five minutes before it was fine, and now it is broken. She is the only one around. Then a week later, she told me she had brushed her teeth and when I checked her toothbrush, it was dry so I knew she hadn't. I asked her again if she brushed her teeth and she said she had. I don't ...

Q: My 9-year-old son has been asking me questions about death lately. We have not had any death in our family and his questioning about the topic worries me. He just says he has been thinking about it. Should I be concerned about this or should I just let this go?

A: Children will bring up this topic for a variety of reasons. Perhaps he has heard some of his friends talking about it, seen it on television, overheard adults talking about, etc. This is a really good sign that he is aski...

Q: A few times in the past few months I have noticed money missing from my purse. I do not want to accuse my children but they are the only ones that have access to my purse. Is there a good way of handling this?

A: This is a problem that is best to address with all your children at once. If you are certain that no one else has access to your purse, have a meeting with your children. Explain that you noticed money missing from you purse and tell them you expect to find out who is doin...

A: Give yourself a break. Nothing is wrong with you. You are human. Kids are experts at pushing their parent's buttons. The guilt you are feeling is an uncomfortable but a potentially beneficial feeling. There a...

What is a psychologist? 
A psychologist studies how we think, feel, and behave from a scientific viewpoint and applies this knowledge to help people understand, explain, and change their behaviour.

Where do psychologists work?
Some psychologists work primarily as researchers and faculty at universities and at governmental, and non-governmental organizations. Others work primarily as practitioners in hospitals, schools, clinics, correctional facilities, employee assistanc...