Montclair Magazine Back to School 2017 | Page 36

education Concern: THEY WON’T KNOW WHAT A BOOK IS What helps: READING WITH YOUR KIDS, EARLY AND OFTEN Have a variety of books on-hand at home and read them to your kids when they’re young. Hearing the language and seeing the pages while you’re reading allows them to immerse themselves in the story and form mental pictures otherwise provided by screens, says Barbara Gottesman of the Montclair-based College Help! Organization and Advising Services. “Parents should take their kids to books stores and libraries from a young age,” she says. “It’s an activity you can do together as a family.” Pick 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 ques- tions about them during car rides and meals. Concern: AFTER SCHOOL, MY CHILD’S ENERGY GOES INTO SOCIAL MEDIA, NOT HOMEWORK C