A lDon ’ t immediately decide your child nneeds a lot of extra help . Instead , investigate if he may have one of the common pitfalls on the following checklist that can easily be remedied , putting him back on the good grades track :
■ Minor health problem
■ Vision problem
■ Hearing problem
■ Sleep deprivation
■ Poor nutrition
■ Too much TV viewing
■ Excessive time online
■ Forgetting books and papers at home
■ Too many after-school activities
■ A pattern of poor attendance .
FINDING FRIENDS FOR FIRST GRADER
Q
My first-grader has been slow to make friends during the school year . There are not a lot of children in our neighborhood , so I am afraid that she will have a rather lonely summer . How can I avoid this and put her on the track to having some friends at school next year ?
— Too Lonely
A
Hopefully , you have made the aacquaintance of several mothers of first-graders in your daughter ’ s class . Contact them now , and make plans for some summer activities . Family activities can be a good way to break the ice in forming friendships . You could organize family trips to the zoo , water parks , or the circus , as well as backyard barbecues . This could be a start on helping your daughter have more friends next year at school .
Think also about some activities that your child might enjoy this summer , from taking ballet or gymnastics lessons to even playing a sport or attending a day camp . Ask your child who in her class she might enjoy doing some of these activities with her . Then , see if you can arrange with the child ’ s parents for the other girl to join your child in this activity .
Another thing that could help your daughter find friends is to sign her up for
a social skills class . It will help her learn more about making friends . #
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