Tip #3. Is Your Child Mercilessly Teased?

I'm Dr. Myrna Shure from Drexel University with today's parenting tip, brought to you by the New Jersey Governor's Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Committee.

Is your child having problems keeping up in school? Is something else on his mind?

You can help your child learn to talk about his thoughts and feelings. Ask:

• What happened in school today that made you feel happy?
• Did anything happen that made you feel mad, or sad?
• Did you do or say anything to help yourself feel better?

One 10-year-old, mercilessly teased by her classmates told me, "I can't concentrate on my schoolwork when kids call me "retard," and "four eyes." She thought about what she could do to solve the problem, then wrote a letter telling the kids how she felt about what they were doing.

This girl took control. She did not give up. She told them how she thinks and feels about being teased. Her classmates gained new respect for her.

Some children who are failing at math don't necessarily need more math. They need to relieve the stress that's preventing them from focusing on the math they're getting.

We must give our kids the skills to do that.

I'm Dr. Myrna B. Shure.