The Three R's Come Home

Parents often wonder how to help their children do better in particular subject areas. The ideas we've listed here cover the traditional Three R's - reading, writing, and arithmetic - and some other subjects just as important in a child's development. You'll find many of them stimulating and fun for both you and your child.

Math

How many times have you heard an adult say, "I can't do anything with numbers?" Chances are, no one ever really tried to help that person as a child develop a fascination with numbers.

As your child begins to get a handle on arithmetic at school, let that knowledge be related to practical situations. Have your child double check the addition on your grocery tapes, record the expenses on family trips, note gasoline mileage, make purchases and count the change, manage an allowance.



Games like Bingo, dominoes, toy telephones, cards, board games, personal calendars, watches and clocks all help to make your child comfortable with numbers.



Enlist your teenager's help in balancing your bank statement or filling in your tax returns.



Encourage your child to calculate age, weight and height, tell time, and to use a calendar.

Science

If you think of laboratories and tests tubes and words no one can pronounce when you think of science…then you and your children are missing a whole lot. These ideas show how we can understand science just by watching the world around us.

Reinforce your child's formal science training by making bird feeders, bird houses, caring for pets, setting up a home weather station and observing the night sky.



Let your child tinker with old clocks, appliances or other broken articles to find out "what makes them go."



Consider giving your budding scientist such gifts as a chemistry set, radio earphone set, the biography of an inventor, a small telescope, binoculars, an aquarium, a terrarium, a microscope or even a magnifying glass.

The Arts

Some people are naturally "gifted." But within every individual there is the ability for artistic expression. Here are some ideas to help you nourish that ability in your child.

Do not destroy your child's creativity by telling them "how to draw" or that "cows are not purple." Don't overload your child with coloring books.



If your child plays a musical instrument, help budget uninterrupted practice time. Listen to your child's performances not only with patience, but with enthusiasm.



Proudly display your child's creations on the wall, door or bulletin board. A few magnets can make the side of your refrigerator an ever-changing art gallery.

Reading and Writing

The development of strong verbal skills may be the most important aspect of your child's schooling. It is these skills which separate and elevate people above other creatures and enable your child to understand and be understood.

Read to your child often. Short exciting stories that hold attention get the small child "hooked" on books. Encourage your child to read out loud.



Introduce your children to the public library at an early age. If there is a story hour, take advantage of it. As soon as your child is old enough, apply for a library card so he or she can select books independently.



Writing should be a part of the family activities along with reading. Encourage your children to write letters and brief notes, even when it seems simpler to call.



Encourage your child to keep a diary.



Word games like Scrabble, Hangman and Ghost can help increase your child's vocabulary and improve spelling skills.

Social Studies

The basics of education go beyond the Three R's. History, economics, geography, government – these are the subjects that enable your child to cope in today's complex world and to appreciate America as a great place to live. Here are some ways you can enrich your child's social studies schooling.

Encourage your child's interest in the family background by talking about the family, talking to older relatives, making a family tree or collecting family memorabilia.



Provide your child with maps. With younger children, locate your home, the school, familiar shopping areas, or your office on a city or county map. Let an older child plan your vacation route with state and road maps.



Make sure your child has research materials such as a dictionary, atlas, globe and an almanac. Keep these items near to study areas and/or TV for use during news and documentary programs.