Q. My daughter skipped the terrible twos and is now going through the even more terrible threes. The worst part of it is her behavior in the morning. When it's time for her to get up and begin getting ready to go to preschool, she becomes meaner than a snake. Every single morning, she throws a tantrum, often lasting 30 minutes, after we wake her up. As a result, I find myself rushing around at the last minute in an attempt to get out of the house on time. She has tantrums during the day when she doesn't get her way, but we've seen great improvement in that area. Is there a solution for these morning meltdowns?

A. You came to the right person. I trained for many years to answer questions of this sort, which only people who train for many years are qualified to answer. Before I give you the solution, however, it is my professional obligation to make the appropriate diagnosis: A 3-year-old child who screams for 30 minutes every morning, after being awakened by her parents, is obviously suffering from a rare syndrome called voluntary or maybe involuntary reliably post-nocturnal awakening disturbance disorder with mean-as-a-snake behavior.

Call your local mental health association to find a VIRPNADDWMSB support group.

And now, the solution, which was developed just last year at the More Science High School Nonmorning-People Research Center: Wake your daughter 30 minutes early, leave her room, and let the tantrum run its course. When it's safe, go back in her room and say something enthusiastic like "What a beautiful day it is!" Then begin helping her prepare for preschool.

Beginning tomorrow, your running-around-like-a-chicken-with-its-head-cut-off mornings are over. You're welcome.

Q. The problem: 30-month-old twin boys who have learned to climb out of their cribs, turning bedtime into a two-hour play fest. (Beds have been ordered.) They have a door gate so they can't roam the house, but they are up playing until 10 o'clock. Do you have any suggestions on how to keep them in their beds?

A. Why is it important to you that these fun-loving boys, who obviously have a wonderful relationship, stay in their beds (or, in the meantime, their cribs)? I believe I am correct in assuming that during their play fest, they don't stand at the gate and scream for you. And when they have had their full of play-festing, they fall asleep on their own, right? And they sleep through the night, yes? And they don't seem any the worse for it the next day, yes? The operative principle here is "If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it." Can you say "earplugs"?

Family psychologist John Rosemond answers parents' questions at www.rosemond.com.