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Reading to Your Child Pays Off -

Moms and dads who spend hours reading The Cat in the Hat or Goodnight Moon to their young children aren't just lulling them to sleep. A new study says that every time parents read a child his favorite bedtime book, they're preparing him/her for a successful future school. Bedtime reading stimulates nearly every facet of a child's development, from language to memory to motor skills, as he or she learns how to turn pages, understand sequences, and follow a narrative. "You can imagine if someone technologically came up with a widget that would stimulate all aspects of a 2-year-old's development, everyone would want to buy it," study author professor Barry Zuckerman tells the London Guardian. That widget happens to be made of paper and ink. Zuckerman's study shows that the earlier a kid gets into reading books with family, the better his test scores are as he grows up.

How to Help Your Child Prepare for a Test -

Make sure your child gets a good night's sleep before a test, and make sure your child eats properly the day of a test.

Maintain a pleasant home environment and avoid unnecessary conflicts. Try to make the morning of the test a pleasant one. Do not add to your child’s stress.

Make sure your child has taken any needed medication.

Ensure that your child is present during testing (children generally perform better when taking tests in their groups rather than at a make-up time).

Get your child to school on time the day of the test.

Wish your child good luck each morning of the test. Tell your child that he/she is special and that you believe in him/her!

Remind your child the test is important. Encourage him/her to do his/her best.

If the test is on a subject for which you can review (such as a spelling test), help your child go over the material.

Remind your child to listen carefully to the instructions from the teacher and to read the directions and each question carefully.

Explain to your child the importance of using time wisely. If your child gets stuck on a question, encourage him or her to make the best guess and move on.

Tell your child to attempt to answer all of the questions and not to leave any blank.

Encourage your child to stay focused on the test, even if other students finish early.

If your child is disappointed after taking a test, reassure him or her that there will be plenty of opportunities to improve and succeed.