Dear Dr. Meg,

When my six-year-old daughter gets into trouble, she will sometimes throw tantrums and make dramatic statements such as “You just hate me, don’t you!” “Ok, no TV for me forever!” or “You can just take all my things away!” She’s anticipating my usual disciplinary methods and them multiplying them by a thousand. How am I supposed to react to these dramatic statements? There’s always so much drama when she’s done the wrong thing and she’s in trouble.  If I send her to her room to calm down, she either won’t go, or won’t stay there and if she does, there’s a lot of howling and carrying on (and lots of those drama queen statements!).  It definitely happens more when she’s tired (like by Thursday afternoon during school week).  I think it’s also attention seeking, although I feel that I give her as much attention as I can (which isn’t excessive, she has a little sister as well).  I just don’t know how to teach her that it’s not the way to do it. She’s so well behaved anywhere else, and she is doing fantastically at school. Any suggestions?? I’m at a loss!

Signed,

Mom Needing Answers

Dear Mom…