Colusa Regional Medical Center,
Caring for Our Community

Back-to-school, Making Sure Your Child is Ready to Learn

School has started and you are settling your family into a new routine.  You are concerned about how well your six-year old is going to do in first grade because he was a little shy about participating in kindergarten activities.  And, first grade is a full day and will be more demanding of his attention.  How do you know if he is ready?    There are a number of things that you can do as a parent to be sure your child is ready for the first big year of school:

Annual Well Child Exam

First, be sure your child has seen his primary physician or clinic provider for an annual preventative care exam.  Here are some things you can do to prepare for your child’s appointment:  Check to see if any special medical release forms are required in order for your child to participate in any school or after-school physical activities, e.g., little league soccer.  Check with your school to see if there are any upcoming field trips that might require any special releases or clearances.  Be sure you have a copy of your child’s immunization records available for updating.  When you go to the appointment, make a list of questions that you want to ask your medical provider about your child’s health or developmental growth status.    

Special Concerns

Communication Skills -Talk to your doctor about your concerns about your child’s shyness.  According to Stefanie Hilder, Speech-language Pathologist for CRMC, shyness may actually be caused by a child’s difficulty in expressing himself.  Sometimes communication difficulties are caused by speech impairments that can be corrected by speech therapy.  Some of the signs that your child may be having difficulty when communicating may include the following:

1) Speech/Articulation Deficit – Is your child having trouble pronouncing certain sounds or syllables?  Difficulty in producing sounds is referred to as a speech disorder.

2) Language Challenge – Difficulty in understanding or putting together words to communicate an idea is referred to as a language disorder.  Does your child have trouble composing a sentence and speaks only in one or two-word phrases?  Does he become frustrated because he can’t find the words to make people understand what he is trying to say? 

3) Social Skills – Inability to communicate can create a tendency for the child to withdraw and become quiet or shy.  Other times, the child may become frustrated and act out because he is not able to make himself clearly understood. 

4) Communication Deficit – Does your child use non-verbal communication such as pointing to identify what he wants?  Does your child rely on an older sibling to communicate his wants and needs?  Does your child use “made-up” words to identify objects in lieu of the real word? 

5) Voice Quality/Resonance – Is the sound of your child’s voice different from other children his age?  Is it hoarse or raspy?  Is it so soft that it is hard to hear him speak?  Or, does he speak in such a loud tone that you are constantly telling him to use his “inside voice”?

6) Fluency – Is the flow of speech interrupted?  A repeated pattern of interruption is known as stuttering.

If your child has any of these symptoms, discuss them with your medical provider and ask if a referral for a speech screening appointment would be appropriate.  A website that provides additional helpful information is:  http://kidshealth.org.

You can also call the Rehabilitation Department at CRMC at 530 458-5821 x287 and ask to talk to a speech therapist about the appropriateness of bringing your child in for a screening exam.

Body Image

What are some of the other things that you can do to prepare your child for readiness to learn?  Another possible reason for a child’s shyness could be that he is self conscious about his body image.  Is he smaller or larger than other children his age?  Do you know your child’s body mass index (BMI)?  If your child is above or below the recommended range for his age, ask your medical provider if a referral to a nutritionist would be appropriate.  The nutritionist will be able to spend concentrated time with you discussing your child’s eating habits, your family’s meal patterns, your food choices and lifestyle.  She will help you identify any changes that might need to be made in your child’s food choice and portions in order to help your child lose or gain weight as appropriate.  She can also provide tips on how to make meal planning and preparation “fun” for the child and the family.  Children need to experience immediate and repeated rewards for cooperating with making changes in their eating behavior.  Because meal time is an important party of your child’s socialization with his peers and family, it is important to avoid making his weight loss or gain the topic of conversation.  Instead, focus on making a game out of trying new food choices. A website that provides additional helpful information is www.mealsmatter.org.  For more information on how to establish a nutritional food plan for your child and family, contact Marsha Vernoga, Registered Dietitian at Colusa Regional Medical Center at 530 458-5821 x324.

Self Confidence

Another important aspect of a child’s readiness to learn is to assess the child’s sense of emotional security.  Changes in the family’s routine can make a child feel fearful.  Have you moved to a new home?  Has there been a change in work assignments so that one parent or the other’s schedule has changed? Has there been a change in school assignments, e.g., older sibling is no longer attending the same school as the younger child?  Is the family experiencing the trauma of separation or divorce?  Is there a new baby in the household or a relative coming to stay? All of these changes can make a child unsure and fearful. Talk to your child’s medical provider, school counselor or call the office of Community Advocates for Parents and Children at 530 458-7678 for assistance in locating a counseling resource in the community. 

Additional Examinations

And, don’t forget the importance of taking your child for his dental and vision screening examinations.  The American Dental Association recommends that every child have a bi-annual dental exam starting with age two.  Likewise, it is recommended that your child have an annual vision screening exam.

Resource Information

If you need help in finding a medical provider or other medical support services for your child, you may also contact Charla Parker, Directory of Community Relations and Planning at Colusa Regional Medical Center at 530 458-5821 x396. You will also find resource information on the website www.colusaregionalmedicalcenter.org