…but when I was in high school I helped out as a Math Tutor.  Now it wasn’t an official job.  Just a thing where I was available to help out in an empty classroom during a free period.  Other students could come in and get help with their math.  I always loved math and thought of it as fun and looked forward to doing my homework.  Weird?  I don’t know.

Anyhoo- Club Z! Tutoring services has special help available to those who need some tutoring in their math classes.  Check them out if this is something you need.  Maybe you’ll find your child can love math too.

Going away to college is an exciting time in the life of the student.  Probably pretty sad in the life of the parent as they send their child off to school, but exciting also to get to watch your child head out into the real world.  One of the main things to consider when your child goes to college is where to live.  Should your child live on the campus in the dorms or in student housing?  There are student accommodation leeds , UK- through Pickard Properties which was recently voted the number one landlord in Leeds, UK.

While it will most likely be difficult to leave your child at college- trust yourself that you did the best you could do raising your child.  He or she will probably make some mistakes (just like you did) and learn from those mistakes and go on to live a great life.

How are your child’s manners?  I think manners are very important and I think children who have good manners are much more likeable than children who do not use simple phrases like please and thank you.  I don’t mean kids who are outright rude- they are definitely not likeable.  But even kids who do not say please and thank you- it shows a reflection of their parents.

With my daughter I started right away teaching her please and thank you.  She could sign those words long before she could say anything at all.  And now that she talks she is very good about saying please and thank you.  I think setting an example and reminding our children to say please and thank you are very important in teaching manners.

What do you do to help your child grow up to be polite?

When I was teaching I had a lot of parents who thought their child might have ADHD.  Most of the time I thought the parents were really just searching for an answer to their child’s behavior problems.  Sometimes we just want some sort of label or reason to a child’s problems.  Honestly over the years I taught there was one child who I thought really did have ADHD.  All the rest of the kids just had/have behavior problems.  There are quite a few criteria that a child has to meet before being considered ADHD.  Here is a list from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

DSM-IV Criteria for ADHD
I. Either A or B:

Six or more of the following symptoms of inattention have been present for at least 6 months to a point that is disruptive and inappropriate for developmental level:

Inattention

Often does not give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities.
Often has trouble keeping attention on tasks or play activities.
Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly.
Often does not follow instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand instructions).
Often has trouble organizing activities.
Often avoids, dislikes, or doesn’t want to do things that take a lot of mental effort for a long period of time (such as schoolwork or homework).
Often loses things needed for tasks and activities (e.g. toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools).
Is often easily distracted.
Is often forgetful in daily activities.

Six or more of the following symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity have been present for at least 6 months to an extent that is disruptive and inappropriate for developmental level:

Hyperactivity

Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat.
Often gets up from seat when remaining in seat is expected.
Often runs about or climbs when and where it is not appropriate (adolescents or adults may feel very restless).
Often has trouble playing or enjoying leisure activities quietly.
Is often “on the go” or often acts as if “driven by a motor”.
Often talks excessively.
Impulsivity
Often blurts out answers before questions have been finished.
Often has trouble waiting one’s turn.
Often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations or games).
Some symptoms that cause impairment were present before age 7 years.
Some impairment from the symptoms is present in two or more settings (e.g. at school/work and at home).

There must be clear evidence of significant impairment in social, school, or work functioning.

The symptoms do not happen only during the course of a Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Schizophrenia, or other Psychotic Disorder. The symptoms are not better accounted for by another mental disorder (e.g. Mood Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Dissociative Disorder, or a Personality Disorder).

Based on these criteria, three types of ADHD are identified:

ADHD, Combined Type: if both criteria 1A and 1B are met for the past 6 months

ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Type: if criterion 1A is met but criterion 1B is not met for the past six months

ADHD, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type: if Criterion 1B is met but Criterion 1A is not met for the past six months.

If you believe your child could have ADHD be sure to talk to his/her pediatrician.