Building Responsibility

Increase memory skills to decrease forgetfulness

Remembering school-related matters is vital to your child becoming responsible and succeeding in school.

Research says that adults give responsible children more positive attention. So teachers may view your child more favorably if she is

responsible about her schoolwork.

Try these strategies to improve your child’s memory:

• Make check-off lists for what to bring to school and what to bring home from school.
• Have a specific place for school materials—books, projects, supplies.
• Keep a regular after-school schedule. Have your child follow the same routine every day.
• Use physical reminders. A loose rubber band around your child’s finger could help her remember to bring home a certain book.
• Teach your child memory “tricks.” Make an acronym for taking what she needs to school, such as HELP—Homework, Extra shoes, Lunch, Pens.
• Let your child suffer consequences. If she’s late returning a library book, don’t pay the fee for her. Take it out of her allowance or savings.

Reprinted with permission from the December 2006 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2006 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: Jerry Wyckoff and Barbara Unell, How To Discipline Your Six to Twelve Year Old … Without Losing Your Mind, ISBN: 0-385-26047-4 (Doubleday, Random House, 1-800-733-3000, www.doubleday.com).