education
Concern : THEY WON ’ T KNOW WHAT A BOOK IS .
What helps : READING WITH YOUR KIDS , EARLY AND OFTEN
Have avariety of books on-hand at home and read them to your kids when they ’ re young . “ They hear the language , and are looking at the words while you read ,” saysRobin Halpern , a counselor in Short Hills . This allows them to immerse themselves in the story and form mental pictures otherwise provided by screens . “ If your house isfull of books , and you ’ re often sitting there reading , it ’ s easy to give your child a book ,” she says . Takeyour kids to book stores andlibraries from a young age and select books of interest to your child , or read the same one and discuss it together . If you recommend a text that isn ’ t too hard and is about an area of interest , he ’ ll get a sense of accomplishment from finishing it . When he has reading assignments , ask questions about them during car rides and meals .
Concern : AFTER SCHOOL , MY CHILD ’ S ENERGY GOES INTO SOCIAL MEDIA , NOTHOMEWORK .
Concern : THEYARE ON THEIR DEVICES ALL THE TIME .
What helps : MODELING GOOD SOCIAL MEDIA BEHAVIOR
Kids learn by watching their parents , so your example is important . “ Do they see you reading , engaged in different areas ofinterest , pursuing what you ’ re curious about ?” asks Nancy Distel , a licensed clinical psychologist and founding partner of Positive Developments , Associates in Psychology in Millburn . Setting your phone aside during mealtime and other family events shows that there ’ s a time and place for everything . “ My 14-year-old and I werehaving dinner at a restaurant , and she pointed out a table with two adults and two kids , and everyone was on their phones ,” she says , gratified that her daughter had internalized her message .
What helps : INSTILLINGGOODHOMEWORK HABITS
Good time management is key to academic success , and that includes limits on social media usage . When kids come home , they can check their social media , then put their phones in another room and settle in to do homework in a setting where there are other people around , as opposedto behind closed doors . “ Good study hygiene is important ,” Halpern says .“ Ideally , one screen should be open at atime , and theyshould stick with a single subject for a certain amount of time .” After an hour of homework , they can go back and check their screens , so they don ’ t feel anxious that they ’ re missing out , and lose concentration . >
THINKSTOCK
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