The Know-It-All

Behavior: How exactly is my child behaving?

• Acts as if he or she has all the answers to everything.
  
  
• Refuses to be told anything.
  
  
• Always wants to talk.
  
  
• Has a superior attitude toward parent and other children or siblings.
  
  
• Argumentative.
  
  
• Difficult to talk to; gives his or her answers or opinions before the other person finishes speaking.
  
  
• Likely to be bright, and usually participates.
  
  
• Acts as if he or she is doing parent a favor by listening or being involved in activities.
  
  
• Very critical of others' behavior—regardless of whether they're those of another child or of an adult.
  
  
• May be sarcastic and even get nasty, but reflection will reveal that he or she seldom loses self- control.
  
  
• Thinks he or she is better informed than other people.
  
  
• May be described as a "bigmouth" by peers.
  
  
• A poor listener.
  
  
• Tries to impress peers.
  
  
• Likely either to be a loner or to band together with other know-it-all children.