Parents, as the school year ends, it’s easy to get swept into summertime fun. But first, how about taking a moment to review how your kids did this year in school? Part of your summer fun can be setting up your child up for success next academic year, both by addressing issues and building on strengths.
1. First, where does your child stand?
- Does your child have problems with specific subjects, procrastinate on homework, have sloppy writing, disorganization, poor attention, health complaints like headaches or tire eyes, or behavioral difficulties? Disengagement or demoralization? What do grades show and teachers say? What does your child avoid? Can you find a pattern? Have any issues lingered from previous grade levels? Does your child read for enjoyment? Use new words? Do practical math, like at the grocery store or in sharing things with others?
- Where does your child shine? Favorite subject? What skills are at play?
- Look at the PTA guidelines for what your child should be able to do by grade level. Can he?
- Squeeze in an extra chat with your child’s teacher if it seems warranted.
- Ask your child. Really listen. Sometimes silence speaks.
- What do your instincts tell you?
2. Cover the basics first for solutions. Consider starting with vision, because an astounding one out of every four children has vision issues that could impact learning. Problems in school often related to vision issues. Even if your child has passed a screening exam for 20/20 eyesight, many problems go undetected.
- See my vision checklist to see if your child shows any of these signs of vision problems. If you suspect an issue, take your child to a developmental optometrist for a comprehensive exam and follow-up. If you’re in the Denver-Metro area, come see me!
In addition to vision, look into other health issues. Healthy children are better learners. Does your child get enough sleep? Daily exercise? Eat well and healthfully? Specific health conditions like asthma are associated with problems in school, perhaps due to factors like sleepiness or absenteeism.
In part 2, we’ll look at more solutions and especially how to build new ways of learning into your summer fun, including with visualization.
A pioneer in vision therapy and developmental optometry, Dr. Lynn Hellerstein is the founder of Hellerstein & Brenner Vision Center, PC. For more than 40 years, she has helped thousands of children and adults improve their vision and transform their lives — at home, in the classroom and on the sports field.
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