Editor’s Blog – Questions Answered

Montie Stone Parenting and questioning go hand in hand. We begin wondering: Are we feeding him enough? Is she sleeping the required hours? Is our little one safe and sound?

As they grow, we ask questions about socialization and playgroups. We move into sports and schools and the questions get more complex, while the answers get less straightforward. We turn to our peers, but realize they don’t know any more than we do. We ask our parents and siblings, and still the answers are clear as mud.

I clearly remember the lost feeling when my son hit the proverbial wall in 3rd grade. He was my first-born and I watched with delight as he passed through milestone after milestone. I thought we were home-free (at least until puberty…) and then he started falling behind. Homework was a frustrated, tear-filled, 3 hours a night – in 3rd grade! What was happening? His teacher explained that he was “no longer learning to read, but reading to learn” – again, clear as mud. What did this have to do with my son? To whom do I turn? What do I do?

I was lucky. I have a friend who is a child psychologist and she advised me to have him tested. More questions. What is “tested”? Who does this testing? How do I guide him through the adversity? What happens after I get the results of these tests? Is anyone else in this boat?
I also asked myself, what if I didn’t have a friend who knows about learning differences to turn to? Where would I find my harbor? What do people do, facing learning issues, when no one seems to understand or be able to help? That wouldn’t happen in a progressive city like Atlanta…

I was then introduced to Kids Enabled. I discovered that, before KE, there was no ONE resource to help parents in my situation. I signed on to edit and write for Kids Enabled and proposed a “help desk” of sorts. This idea grew into “Ask the KE Experts.”

People turn to Kids Enabled for editorial that informs and directs. There is also a place to simply ask questions. Our readers get answers to questions with a click of the mouse. By visiting our home page at www.kidsenabled.org and choosing “Ask the KE Experts,” questions dealing with learning differences can be answered by experts in whatever field the question deems. We have covered the following topics in the magazine: making math fun, summer learning, raising young readers’ interest, overnight camp anxiety, inclusion in sports, and both parents taking a role. This week’s article is about sleep issues and boredom.

I am baffled by our low response to our free, fabulous and easy Q & A with experts. Maybe some didn’t know we had this offering. Maybe some did not realize that our experts come from a wide range: psychologists, educational consultants, parents, therapists and classroom educators. Maybe some have no time to post questions.

What I do know is that in this day and with this economy, I am hopeful that our readers and supporters seek advice from “Ask the KE Experts.” This resource exists to help folks find answers…

I had a friend to help when I felt lost – so do you!