With the mid-term elections in about a month, the political candidates are

becoming loud and vocal. Among the "I will increase jobs", the "I will

decrease taxes" and the "I will fix the economy" messages, we hear

about education. Most of the messages are "We need to fix education" but

very few messages have a plan to achieve this goal.

Every family wants their children to have access to a great education. This

access may not always be available. But each family can improve their

child's education just be doing a few very easy and inexpensive things.

First, read to your child. Read a lot, read consistently. It doesn't matter

what you read. I have read biographies to my 4 year old. She just liked the

sound of my voice and the closeness. Later she liked the content. Read the

newspaper, read children's books, or read US News and World Report or Time.

Remember at first the attention span won't be very long, but the draw will

be you. After a while the draw will be the story. And if money is a concern

(for most of us the money IS a concern) you can get these items free from the

local library.

Second, encourage your child to read. I like to start non-readers with

picture books and ask the child to make up a story for the picture. As the

child learns letters and sounds, read in tandem; let the child read a few

words (the, a, he, she) and you read the others. Soon the child will read

more and more words. When the student is reading well, then help them find

interesting books and other literature. You must continue letting your

student see you read as the example.

Third, if the toy requires electricity or batteries, limit its use. Even

video games and TV count here. Children have these amazing minds and

imaginations. Don't allow something artificial to limit your child's

imagination. If the car doesn't make a noise, your child will make up many

different noises for it. If the doll doesn't speak or cry, the child will

make up all sorts of sounds for the doll. Let your child explore their

imagination, this is the beginning of education.

Fourth, if you find great summer enrichment opportunities, don't be turned

off by the cost. Call the organization and see if they offer scholarships or

grants for children to attend. Most organizations don't promote this help

very loudly, you have to ask. You can also find easy and inexpensive science

experiments to conduct at home. Do you know what happens when you drop Mentos

in soda?

Fifth, discuss current events with your child; ask your child what he or she

thinks about different things. How would your child fix the broken oil well?

How would your child fix the economy? What kind of car would not pollute the

environment? How can you save more money? You may think your child doesn't

understand, but children see more than you realize. And some of their ideas

may actually help. The conversations help spark the connection between cause

and effect as well as teaching that each child is part of a bigger picture.

Our government may not be able or willing to truly fix the education system.

But you don't have to let your children suffer through the slow change

cycle. A small effort on your part will give your children a huge boost in

their ability to learn.