Creativity expert, professor, father and former day care provider Rustin Wolfe writes a weekly MinnMoms parenting advice column that uses creative punishments to put a positive spin on negative behavior.

Here's one of his creative solutions:

MOMMY. MOMMY! MOMMY!!!

Question: How can I get my 2-year-old to let someone other than me do things for him? He's in a Mommymommymommy phase and won't let even his father hand him his toys.

Behavior: Attached to Mommy and only Mommy.

Problem: Mommy occasionally has other responsibilities and needs others to be able to assist.

Solution: Don't cave. Don't overreact, either. Empower him with limits. This phase shall pass.

Activity: Giving in will teach him that his tantrums will eventually get him what he wants. If you ever want your burden to decrease, you'll have to tolerate some tears. Don't make him cry out of spite, though. If it works for you to be the one to help him, fine. If it doesn't, don't. If you tell him you can't, stick to it.

One proactive strategy we've used successfully is for Mommy to tell him he can either get what he wants from Daddy or go without. This puts him in the driver's seat. It may take a couple minutes (or rounds) of being without for him to accept his second choice, but eventually he'll settle for Daddy, much to Mom's relief.

  • Want Rustin's solution for your child's challenging behavior? Send questions to
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