What should you do? Drop everything and run to her aid? Calmly tell her to do the work herself? Call a tutor?

A parent can play a healthy role in helping kids to successfully complete their homework assignments. But parents must draw clear boundaries that protect them from offering too much help and their kids from expecting it.

Encourage your child to do as much as possible alone:

“Try the first set of verbs. See what you can do.”

“Read the directions again.”

But if your son or daughter persists in claiming they are unable to understand or complete the assignment, you may need to step in:

“What specific problem are you having?”

“Read it aloud to me, slowly.”

Kids may not appreciate this type of response, preferring, instead, a hands-on approach from Mom or Dad. But it is more helpful when parents gently insist that kids apply critical thinking skills to solve problems themselves.

However, if it becomes apparent that the child truly is lost and doesn’t understand the homework concept, the parent may be able to help. Suggest that your child re-read the section that was assigned for homework practice. After he or she has done that, ask if there are any questions. Answer them to the best of your ability. Those you cannot answer, suggest your child write them on paper for the teacher.

Then ask your child to read the first problem aloud, breaking it into parts if necessary. When you get a quizzical look afterward, calmly nudge the problem back to your child:

“What do you think that means?”

“How does the problem relate to what you just read?”

Little by little, help your child deconstruct the overwhelming assignment by looking at each part individually before responding to the whole unit.

Sometimes, though, a homework question is poorly worded or the parent doesn’t know the answer. Suggest that your child skip to the next question or even the next subject. It’s important that he or she continue on a productive path in completing as much homework as possible rather than giving up on one topic and neglecting the rest.

Parents should avoid taking a hands-on approach. A bit of advice or a probing questions can be helpful instead. Obviously, a parent should never do the work for the child. That would be cheating, as would recommending plagiarism or unethical shortcuts of any kind.

Parents have a great opportunity to model problem-solving skills when their kids struggle with homework uncertainties. But when it becomes clear that a child is feeling overwhelmed by an assignment, the parent should make an appointment to talk with the teacher and clarify the situation. No child can master a skill that he or she cannot comprehend, so be sure that learning takes place first, followed by practice later.

1. Fantasy and science fiction. Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and even films adapted from popular films like Star Wars or Spider Man offer tempting reading for kids age ten and up. Some younger children might be able to enjoy works like these, but theme, vocabulary, and style are geared more toward adolescent children. Decide how you feel about fantasy elements such as witchcraft in the Potter books or magic in Tolkien before getting your kids hooked. Since some of the more popular works are published in series, your children may continue reading for weeks or even months to satisfy curiosity aroused from the first book.

2. Spiritual and religious themes. The Left Behind series in Christian literature was written for adults originally, but there is now a teen version that many adolescents are reading. Written from an evangelistic perspective of the end times prophesized in the Bible, the books offer adventure, excitement, and thrills as heroes and villains continue the battle of good versus evil through several volumes. Like other popular kids’ books, there is a film and its sequel that many teens have viewed. Wholesome and family friendly, the scary parts have to do with demonic forces threatening humankind.

3. American classics. For younger school children of elementary age, the Little House on the Prairie series offers a warm, friendly look at early life on the prairie as described by Laura Ingalls Wilder in the late 1800s. Made into a popular television series in the 1970s and ’80s that still can be viewed in reruns, the wholesome topics center on family life and humor during a key period of American history. Other children’s classics include Charlotte’s Web and the Charlie Brown stories that were adapted from the original cartoon strip begun by Charles Schultz in 1950.

4. Multicultural themes. Books about French children, Iranian girls’ novels about growing up during the Islamic revolution, and long-popular favorites such as Black Like Me offer insight to other cultures and peoples who live both in and out of the United States.

5. Poetry and rhyme. Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein are two of America’s best loved children’s authors who specialize in rhyming verse to tell interesting stories or recite poems. Some kids still read American authors Emily Dickinson’s “The Swing” or Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” along with folk lyrics that tell stories of American-based scenes and events, such as “Tom Dooley” and “Hiawatha.”

Whatever your child’s taste in books, there are many popular authors and titles from which to choose. The main thing is to start early by introducing your kids to books and poems while they are young, perhaps even before starting school. As they grow and change, so will their reading tastes. Parents who initiate reading habits in their children will be pleasantly surprised to find that the kids’ academic scores tend to be higher than those who don’t read, especially in language skills. So don’t wait. Go buy or borrow a book for your kids today!

One thing to consider is whether or not the program you are looking at is accredited. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) sets standards for quality education programs for children from birth to age 8. This is a voluntary program and means that child development centers do not have to have this endorsement in order to operate. If a child development program is accredited then it must continuously meet the standards set out by the institution. At the same time, just because a program is not accredited does not mean that it is a bad one. Many programs have the same high standards and provide the same quality of education.

When looking at a child development program you want to see that the children are generally happy and interacting with one another. There should be plenty of space for them to play and explore. It is important that they are encouraged to interact with the other students and teachers alike.

See if the program has ample supplies. Are the children happy with the choices they have? Will your own children be happy with those same choices? The children should be provided many opportunities for self-exploration. You do not want to see children sitting down and just coloring worksheets.

What is the teacher to child ratio? A well-run program has a set adult to child ratio and will not go over that. That ratio will change according to the age of the child. Of course younger children should be in smaller groups with more adults. As your child gets older they will be moved into larger groups with less teachers.

Not only is it important to have enough teachers but, they need to have a background and training in child development. The teachers need to know and understand the different stages of development a child will go through. The expectations in the classroom need to adhere to the appropriate stage.

A quality program will emphasize all areas of child development, social, cognitive, emotional, and physical. You should see signs of this in the activities your child will be participating in and in the toys and educational materials that are present in the room.

Are you welcome in the classroom and encouraged to voice your opinion? No one knows better than you about your child. Do the teachers regularly discuss the progress your child is making and hear any concerns you might have? You should be able to drop by for visits and should be allowed spend time observing.

When appropriate, is there an educational component to the program. A one year old should be encouraged to use one-word sentences. A four year old should be exploring letters and numbers. Teachers should spend a quality amount of time reading to the children. For older children, there should be a healthy mix of activities that focus on both fine and gross motor skills.

The more time and research you put into finding the right program for both you and your child the happier you will all be.

Nowadays instructors must not only teach a subject in their classrooms, they have to observe children for health concerns, safety factors, and abuse issues and report these to appropriate authorities. They must be on the alert for disturbed students who may assault others without warning or bring weapons to school. Before and after class they are urged to keep an eye out for possible predators who stalk students on the playground or en route. In addition to these tasks, teachers write lesson plans and grade papers in response to state and national standards for a paycheck that many deem inadequate.

To support your child’s teacher, consider some of the following tips that may make his or her job a little easier.

1. Volunteer weekly or monthly. Become a room mother or a teacher’s aide to help monitor children on the playground, at break, or during lunch. Offer to grade papers or type lesson plans. Bring occasional snacks for the teacher only or the class as well. Help a weaker student practice reading, math, writing, or other needed skills while the teacher works with the rest of the class.

2. Partner with the teacher regarding your child’s progress. Instead of arguing with or criticizing the teacher’s assessment of your child’s progress, make an appointment to discuss it and ask for ways in which you can help your child meet that grade level’s learning objectives.

3. Send in a gift certificate from a school supply store. School budgets often get cut, leaving teachers without adequate resources for their students. A gift certificate may facilitate the purchase of art supplies, a software tutorial, or a class teaching resource such as a globe that otherwise could not be afforded.

4. Join the PTA. A parent-teacher organization promotes students’ well-being through a host of projects to benefit the school and assist teachers in meeting goals. Fund raisers can help to finance a part-time reading monitor or a music instructor. Some projects fund classroom carpeting or a new blackboard.

5. Write a note. Send a card of appreciation to your child’s teacher as well as another to the principal in which you praise the instructor for specific strengths or accomplishments. The note can become part of the teacher’s permanent record and come up for review during the annual evaluation, perhaps contributing to a better pay raise.

6. Submit a newspaper article. Send a short piece about your kids’ school and their teachers to the local newspaper. Those citing special projects or achievements are apt to be considered for publication, further boosting your community’s morale and the teacher’s sense of well-being. Most teachers receive plenty of parental criticism but little praise, especially in written form.

Everyone likes to feel that they are doing a good job and that people appreciate them. Spend a little time investing in your kids’ teachers, and your kids may reap the benefits in terms of a confident instructor who doubles his or her efforts to continue doing a great job.

One easy tried and true method to help you teach your children the alphabet is to sing the alphabet song to them throughout the day. Eventually, your child will begin to sing along. Just remember that even if your children can sing the alphabet song forwards and even backwards, that does not mean they have learned the alphabet. However, this song is an excellent building block in the teaching process.

Once your child knows how to sing the alphabet song, you will need to teach your child to identify the letters. One good way to teach your child the alphabet is to think of a subject that interests your child. Whether you decide on dinosaurs, puppies, or trucks, you will probably be able to find an ABC book on this topic. Your child will be more likely to look at the book over and over again if it is a topic that is of interest. Make sure you read the book through several times with your child. Then, be sure the book is accessible throughout the day so that your child can pick it up and review the ABC’s by himself.

If books don’t interest your child, try creating a real life alphabet guide to teach your child the alphabet. Print each of the alphabet letters clearly on an index card. Tape each letter to an item in the house that represents that letter. Your children will see that “r” stands for refrigerator or that “d” stands for door every time they walk by the index cards.

If you don’t want to have cards taped on your belongings, you can still print alphabet letters on index cards to teach your child the alphabet. However, instead of putting the index cards on different objects, you can find magazine pictures that start with those letters. For beginning alphabet practice, glue the pictures on the index cards beside the letters. After your child has gained some experience, you can make a new set of index cards that have the letters of the alphabet on one side and the pictures that start with those letters on the other side. Once your cards are finished, there are several ways you can use them to teach your child the alphabet.

First, you can use your alphabet cards as flash cards to drill your child on the alphabet. Some children quickly memorize the alphabet this way. Others grow frustrated and bored. Encourage those children to play games such as war or twenty-six card pick-up with their flash cards.

The other way to use alphabet cards to teach your children the alphabet involves a double set of cards. Once you have created two sets of cards, you can set up a memory game for your children. Combine and shuffle the two sets of cards. Then lay them face down on the table. Each person turns over two cards. If the cards match, that person removes them from the table and turns over two more cards. If the cards do not match, the players try to memorize which cards they are and where they are located. The unmatched cards are turned face down again and the next person tries to match up a pair of cards. Continue until all of the cards are matched up. Remember to say the letters aloud as you play the game to reinforce your children’s memory.

Finally, remember that your child needs a lot of repetition to learn this new skill. Review the alphabet at least several times a day and your child will eventually learn the ABC’s.

If you’re a parent who’s wondering how to get started, here are a few tips that can help.

1. Tap pop culture. A recent Brad Pitt film, TROY, is a remake of the ancient classic, THE TROJAN WAR by Homer. If your child is old enough, take him or her to see this great story on the silver screen. During your drive in the car, toss out a few ideas to stimulate interest in the original story:

“The beautiful Helen was the cause of the war. Do you think it’s possible for two men’s fight over a woman to start a large-scale battle today?”

“Both sides believed that demi-gods fought on their side. Why would they think that about another human being?”

Innocent questions like these can set youthful minds in motion to ponder the larger issues behind the scenes of their favorite film celebrities.

2. Check out the spin-offs. Recent films also take advantage of popular themes or myths. For example, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE fabricates the story of young Shakespeare falling for a pretty aristocrat when his wife gives him the cold shoulder. While the plot may sound questionable, the film offers realistic sets and props that can help teenage viewers appreciate the conditions of Shakespeare’s original dramas. Similar films about figures like Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald
offer glimpses into the personal lives of modern literary geniuses and may likely impress young viewers.

3. The play’s the thing. JOSEPH AND THE TECHNI-COLORED DREAMCOAT provides an entertaining introduction to the oldest classical work of all, the Bible. Or take your offspring to see other stage shows like Les Miserable or the Phantom of the Opera. Productions like these stir interest in the authors and their works. Who knows? Your kids might come home asking for the book to read.

4. Buy a few copies. Bring home an attractively bound volume of a classical work, from AESOP’S FABLES for the younger set to Ovid’s METAMORPHOSES for high school students. Even modern authors like Edgar Allan Poe or William Faulkner portray some pretty offbeat characters that kids may find compelling. Leave your new books on the coffee table or the desk where they will attract notice.

5. Set the example. Don’t be afraid of being seen reading a great book yourself. Often, kids get interested in whatever is occupying Mom or Dad’s time. So let them see you poring over a story that has classic value. Discuss it over dinner or in the car. Chances are the next time you look, one of the kids will have your book in their hands.

6. Surf the Web. Literary Web sites for kids are plentiful. Do a little online browsing to find some that offer helpful or fun information for kids the age of yours. Introduce your children to these troves of undiscovered treasure and watch as they “ooh” and “ah” over little-known facts or fun word puzzles.

Bringing the classics and your kids together may not be as difficult as you think. With a little forethought and ingenuity, you may soon find that your kids have developed a new taste for reading.

However, curriculum developers sometimes are open to new ideas for courses that may meet an unserved population or an untaught need. If you have an idea for a new course that may benefit the students at your child’s school, the following guidelines may be able to help you introduce it to school authorities:

1. Meet with the teacher. If your course idea is geared toward sixth graders, make an appointment with the sixth grade teacher(s) to discuss it. Ask for a time that is convenient for their schedules, such as after school or following a special event, such as parent conferences.

2. Prepare a one- or two-page proposal to give them ahead of time. Your outline should address criteria like the following:

-why is the course needed?

-how will it be taught?

-what are the course learning objectives?

-how do these fit with the overall grade plan?

-how much will it cost the school system?

-who will benefit?

-how will students benefit?

-how can teachers evaluate the course?

If you do not have all this information, take what is available at this time. At the meeting, invite questions and feedback. If teachers feel the course cannot be offered at this time, thank them for their time. If they like the idea, set a meeting with the principal and invite the teachers to come along.

3. Get parental feedback. If the administrator agrees that the proposal has merit, ask if you can send a handout home with students for their parents telling them of the course idea and inviting feedback. A short survey might be helpful in which you ask questions about parents’ interest in the course, confirm their willingness to pay course fees (perhaps $50 per student), and invite feedback. If you get a good response (roughly 10% of the total number of surveys distributed), ask the administrator if the course can be tried next year or if it must be approved by the curriculum committee or the school board.

4. If the principal agrees to try the course next year, put your proposal into the teachers’ hands and wait to see how it fares. But if the idea needs to be reviewed by the curriculum committee or the school board, distribute copies of your proposal before the next meeting and offer to attend to answer questions. Invite one or more teachers to go with you.

5. Once a decision has been made at this level, you will probably be able to put the idea to bed. Either the school system will approve your idea and agree to implement it the following year, or you will be told, “Thanks, but no thanks.” If the latter, take heart in knowing that you tried, and perhaps the idea was rejected for good reason. You also may want to offer it to a neighboring school district. Having gone through the process once, you will have a better idea of how to do it again should the need arise.

Developing a new course proposal allows parents to take an active role in ensuring that their children receive plentiful opportunities for a quality education. Even if the proposal isn’t adopted, you can feel good knowing that you tried to improve the curriculum, and perhaps it is doing just find after all.

When your child gets home from school, it is important to discuss their day and find out what homework they have been given. This allows you and your child to create a plan for getting the homework done.

Some children would rather jump right in and complete their homework rather than have it on their mind all afternoon. Others need a mental break from the day before they can delve into more schoolwork. Either scenario is fine, as long as there is a mutually agreed upon plan.

It is also important to give your child a healthy snack or dinner before they begin their homework. Hunger can be a major distraction, and kids are usually looking for any excuse to put off doing their homework. Eliminate the chance of this distraction by providing a healthy snack, preferably with protein. Good snacks include a piece of bread with peanut butter, some turkey and carrots or a fruit smoothie. These snacks should keep their energy level up and keep them from feeling lethargic.

Next, decide on the best environment for your child to do their homework in. It could be at a desk in their room, at the kitchen table or in an office. Any area is fine as long as it is relatively free from distractions. Never allow your child to do homework with the television on. Many people prefer light background music, and studies have shown that it could be beneficial to thought, versus a room that is dead silent.

Before your child sits down to work, be sure that all the supplies they will need are readily available at the table. Also be sure that they have used the restroom and that they have a glass of water to drink. Avoiding these potential distractions will save your child time once they begin their homework, as well as preventing breaks in their concentration level.

The amount of assistance you provide your child with their homework, again depends on the child. If you are concerned, consult their teacher for guidance on how much help they should be getting. In general, you should be available to answer questions but not hanging over their shoulder doing the work for them.

It is especially important to not overly assist your child on school projects. Parents tend to put too much emphasis on the quality of their child’s cotton ball igloo or Popsicle stick replica of the White House. Oftentimes, parents end up making it their project and the child loses out on a valuable learning experience.

The most important things to remember when helping your child with their homework is to help them stay organized, provide a comfortable work environment and answer any questions they ask without being too involved.