- Ask your child specific questions about the school day. 

- Begin your child's day with a calm routine and a nourishing breakfast.

- Congratulate your child often for doing well.

- Discuss homework with your child.  Know what is being taught at school.

- Encourage your child to read, and read aloud to your child.

- Find a quiet place for your child to do homework and study for tests and quizzes.

- Give your child responsibilities that s/he is ready to handle.

- Hug your child frequently to build self worth.

- Include your child in making simple family decisions.  Ask for your child's opinion about things.

- Join a library with your child and go regularly.

- Keep your child on a schedule that includes time for study, exercise, and sleep.

- Limit TV viewing by selecting programs with your child.  Watch television together and talk about what you see.

- Make the time you spend with your child special, and spend time with each of your children separately when possible.

- Notice and discuss changes in your child's behavior.  Ask your child what's on his or her mind.

- Offer to help your child organize school papers.  Find a safe place to keep items that need to be returned to school to avoid frantic last-minute searches.

- Provide your child with good role models.  Children learn what they live, see, and hear every day.

- Question the activities your child shares with friends.  Get to know their friends and their parents.

- Respect your child's right to have feelings and teach them how to handle unpleasant ones in appropriate ways.

- Share an interest or a hobby with your child.

- Take time to listen to your child without interrupting.

- Understand that your child may not always be able to explain things clearly.  Take time to understand what your child tells you.

- Visit places of interest with your child.

- Work with your child to set up rules for behavior.

- Examine your child's graded work and go over it together, particularly if your child did poorly.

- Yield results by encouraging your child to reach his or her own personal best.

- ZOOM through these ABCs again and again!