Scott Ervin, Tribune News Service

Dear Kid Whisperer,

I can’t believe I am asking this, because it seems so simple, but I can’t figure out how to do it. How do I get my 4-year-old to clean her room? With my now-8-year-old, we would just tell her to do it, and she would do it. Not with our second. She says she’ll do it and then doesn’t. I threaten her with loss of privileges and then it causes a whole thing. This shouldn’t be this hard.

Answer: Yep. It shouldn’t be, but it seeming to be complicated to you is understandable and not your fault. In a world awash in terrible “parenting” (which shouldn’t even be a word) advice, common sense seems to be in short supply.

Common “parenting” ideas involve saying cute, fluffy things without giving any answers or solving any problems. Parents need

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