Dear Aunt Noor,

I am a mother of three kids. My problem is with my youngest kid. He is six years old and enrolled in the first grade at school. Even though he is very smart comparing to other kids his age, he waists almost all his time in front of  the TV watching cartoons and I find a lot of difficulties in convincing him write his homework or study. I want you to help me to let him take care of his school and reduce his interest in TV.  Also, how could I let him love reading? Thanks for your help.

Um Amer

Dear Um Amer,

Thanks for your question and I wish all mothers pay attention to these things when raising their kids.

Of course, today TV is considered one of the tools which busy our kids with its interesting programs and help in reducing their interest in writing homework and studying. Therefore, parents need to pay more attention and effort to reduce the bad effects of TV on their kids.

In your case for example, you need to put a strict rule for kids about when and how much time they could watch TV. They shouldn’t have the complete freedom to watch whenever they want. For example, you can give them a specific time for watching cartoons after finishing their homework.

On the other hand, you have to start encouraging them to read. You can start by giving them interesting stories full of pictures and interesting topics. Start a daily routine with your kids to read an interesting story at bed time. It would be a good idea also at the beginning if you don’t complete the story at the same day so that kids beg you the next day to finish reading it and when you do, you start another story …etc. By time, you will notice how reading becomes a habit for the kids. Concerning your kids refusal of writing homework, it would be a good idea to help them in writing their homework and encouraging them by different nice words while doing the homework. Also you can reward them with something they love when writing homework on time for example.

To ask Aunt Noor for her Advice , email her at noor@yemenpost.net