Limiting TV time, to allow kids' brainpower to blossom. Finding fun in learning , to make life a greater adventure. As summer draws to a close, parents can continue to be their children's best teachers. Family members can help their children to read aloud, do crossword puzzles, calculate coupons, and explore science through cooking. Adults can encourage children to write letters to relatives or pen pals.
Daily practice keeps skills sharp.
Of course, some children still need extra help once school is in session, particularly in reading and math. Fortunately, a new source of help is available in virtually every community. Through the U.S. Department of Education's America Reads and America Counts programs, college students earn financial aid for tutoring children in reading or math. It doesn't cost parents or schools a dime, and college students earn money to pay for books, tuition, and other expenses. More than 1,400 colleges and universities volunteered for the America Reads program in its first few years.