Your child doesn't seem to understand what kind of behavior is and isn't appropriate. Her body language shouts attitude and a lot of what comes out of her mouth sounds like something that either Bart Simpson or one of The Trailer Park Boys might utter on a really bad day.

Solution: You're dealing with two issues here: body language and the language issue. It sounds like your daughter could benefit from a little coaching on both fronts. Point out that sometimes our gestures speak louder than words: when she rolls her eyes or crosses her arms and taps her foot, she's making it perfectly obvious that she's less than thrilled with what you have to say. And as for the swearing, you might want to limit the amount of TV your daughter watches for the next little while, put strict limits on the types of shows she's watching, and/or have a frank discussion about why the expressions that certain TV characters get away with using on the tube simply don't fly at home.

You can't make a simple request of your son without him talking back.

Solution: Refuse to tolerate backtalk. It's disrespectful and you're not doing your child any favors by allowing him to be rude to the adults in his life. Of course, you'll want to be sure that you're treating him with respect. You have to be prepared to walk the talk.

Your child has a tendency to tune you out whenever you need to pass along important information or instructions.

Solution: Make sure that you have your child's complete attention before you launch into a detailed explanation. That may mean standing between her and the TV set or video game console or-better yet-turning off all electronic gadgets entirely before you start talking. You may also want to ask your child to repeat your instructions back to you to ensure that your message has come through loud and clear.

Your child starts whining whenever he doesn't get his way. You find yourself giving in just to make the whining stop.

Solution: No matter how much your child whines, don't give in. Even if you were planning to buy him that ice cream cone before he started whining for it, refuse to buy it for him once he starts whining. And be sure to let him know why he's missing out. He'll be less inclined to whine the next time around.

The moment you try to carry on a conversation with another adult, your child start interrupting.

Solution: Let your child know that interrupting is rude and that she needs to wait her turn. Then carry on your conversation despite the interruptions. Once you've finished talking to the adult, turn your attention to your child so that her patience is rewarded. She needs to know that she'll get the chance to have her say.

Your child is constantly teasing his younger sister, something that inevitably results in outbursts of crying.

Solution: Remind your older child that teasing is only fun if the other person is enjoying it, too -- and obviously his sister isn't having much fun if she's spending most of her time crying! Then come up with a consequence for the teasing -- perhaps a timeout in another part of the house away from his sister if he can't manage to refrain from teasing.

Your two kids have found a new way to entertain themselves whenever they're at loose ends -- picking fights with one another. They seem to find it endlessly enjoyable, but it's driving you around the bend.

Solution: Let your kids know that you find the bickering endlessly annoying, and that, from now on, you're going to take bickering as a sign that the two of them need something to do -- like fold laundry, unload the dishwasher or otherwise pitch in with chores.

Your daughter cheats at card games, board games, and all kinds of sports. She has to win at all costs.

Solution: Let your daughter know that winning isn't the point of playing games-playing the game well is. Our society overemphasizes winning, so sometimes kids feel pressured to win no matter what. By emphasizing such values as honesty and good sportsmanship as opposed to winning, you'll be giving your daughter permission to lose with grace.

Lately, you've caught your son lying on a number of occasions. When confronted, he admits the truth, but you're disturbed how easily -- and how often -- he's been caught lying.

Solution: Give some thought to how often you bend the truth. Do you tell "little white lies" from time to time? And while you're doing some parental navel gazing, make sure you aren't too heavy handed when it comes to punishment. If a child is afraid of being severely punished for making a mistake, the temptation to lie can be overwhelming. Your child needs to feel confident that honestly really is the best policy in your family.

Your child has been caught stealing candy or money from his siblings.

Solution: Let your child know that stealing is totally unacceptable and insist that he make restitution to the victim -- perhaps paying back the money or arranging to replace the candy that has been stolen. Note: If the problem is ongoing or involves large amounts of stealing, you may want to seek professional help for your child as it may be indicative of a more serious problem.