“My daughter has just turned five and frequently says, ‘I don’t care about you’ to her family and friends and I’m dreading this turning into, ‘I hate you’. What’s the best way to deal with this behaviour to make her understand it’s unkind?”

NAOMI RICHARDS, life coach for children, says: “While recent survey statistics by bonjela Junior show that, on average, teenagers tell their parents they hate them 27 times per year, this phenomenon can affect younger children. Don’t react too much to it and do not let it affect your feelings. Children often say things to get a reaction or to hurt you. Find a time when she is not saying it to you and talk to her.

Where has she heard this from?

Does she know what it means? If not, explain its meaning and that it is not the kind of thing we should say, as it’s unkind.”