This week's question....

Dear Ms. Strum:

Dear Readers,

As so many of you have asked questions since this column began, this installment of Ask the Teacher will focus on several of your collective concerns. Although I would prefer to focus on one topic in depth, I hope many more of you will benefit by shorter answers to more questions. Please continue to send your questions c/o childfun.com and Jenny will forward them to me. I regret that I cannot answer each in more detail. Please watch for the launch of AsktheTeacherOnline.com in the months to come. Details will follow in another issue.

Best wishes to you and your family,

Lisa Strum

My son will enter kindergarten next year, but although he has wonderful vocabulary, he still can't pronounce the J, ch, th, or L sounds. I am working with him and he is improving...should I worry?

A. The Teacher Answers:

How wonderful that your son's vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds. He will probably outgrow the speech "problem", but should it persist, the kindergarten teacher may bring it to the attention of a speech therapist. This will usually only occur if socialization or learning problems interfere with your child's kindergarten experience in a big way. Typically, kindergarten orientations include an orientation for parents, and it is always acceptable to raise a question at such a forum on a 1-1 basis. You might also want to call the speech and hearing teacher and ask for an appointment once kindergarten is under way. Young children typically have difficulty making the "advanced" sounds simply because they are immature speakers with little experience. If and when speaking poorly becomes a communication impediment, it is usually addressed as part of a learning plan commonly known as an IEP (individual educational plan). Don't worry. Just keep working at it, but don't stress your child because sometimes the stress is more effective in creating a problem than solving one. Having said that, stay alert, be proactive, and let the pros at school or a private speech practitioner address the issue. Don't worry. By second grade, most children with pronunciation "barriers"accrue greater skills over time or with intervention.

Q.Michele de Souza Asks the Teacher:

When is the right time for a child to learn a second language?

A. The Teacher Answers:

Hi Michele! Children are like sponges and if you introduce two languages, the primary and secondary, at the very same time, from the very beginning, the child will learn both languages equally well. Children of elementary school age are incredibly capable of just sucking in a new language as if it were breath, especially if immersed in a total second language environment. The older a person is, the more difficult it is to acquire a new language, so I guess you could say that the younger you may be, the easier it will be to master multiple languages. Having said that, if a person of any age is confronted with total immersion in a new language or culture, it is safe to say that eventually, most people will become somewhat literate in the new or second language. The earlier the better. Incidentally, have you ever watched a young group of children in nursery or kindergarten studying the long and multi-syllabic names of dinosaurs? They love to learn new sounds because it is a game! Make language learning fun and start as soon as you like. (A trip to another country is an ideal way to expose your child to total immersion. Need any other excuse to travel around the world? What a great way to exercise the brain.) I have found that many children also do well learning a new language in the context of music and rhythm. Several tapes are available commercially that sing songs in various languages. Do not worry that the child will be confused if more than one language is spoken at home. Youngsters switch back and forth well, according to the setting and the dominant language spoken there.

Q. Julie Wilson Asks the Teacher:

My 4 year old (will be 5 in April) sometimes has problems at school about hitting and kicking. If he feels threatened he hits and kicks. It has been the teachers he kicks but he hit students yesterday. My husband picked him up from school because we told him the next time he acts like that we will come and get him. It's pre-K and it's only half a day so it wasn't like he was missing much. Today he will probably be fine. Until next time. We tell him to talk to his teachers and tell them that he is upset or angry. But this only works for a short time after he gets in trouble. We take away things-ground him from things etc. Is there anything else?

A. The Teacher Answers:

The bottom line is that hitting anybody, whether it is a teacher, a student, a parent, a sibling, friend or anyone else, is totally unacceptable behavior. Consistency is the key in countering this behavior. You must get to the bottom of why your child hits. Is the child being hit at home for punishment? Does somebody outside of the home hit the child? Does the child witness any hitting in any context within the child's environment? How does hitting others benefit the child? Does the child win power over the situation by intimidating? Does the child gather attention from negative behaviors and not via positive actions? You will need help in deciphering all this and processing what to do with the information once you get it. I will assume that you are going to the school to discuss this with a social worker or school psychologist. Alternately, if this is not an option, I will assume you are consulting with a practitioner outside of the school setting. Do not ignore the behavior. It will only get worse. I like the idea of your coming to school to get him as a message that communication about this behavior is immediate between home and school. However, I caution that if you send dad each time, the message is that father is the disciplinarian only. Make sure you both play the role so that a united front is evident and so that neither parent is perceived as the villain. Total isolation is recommended for a time frame appropriate to the child. If you take the child home immediately, the child should sit quietly by himself for 10 minutes or so (longer for older children). Start off with a shorter time and prolong the duration if and when more strident measures are necessary. Be sure to tell the child that nothing is available for amusement (no toys, music, TV, games) during that time. Ignore all crying, screaming, etc. Be firm. Do not tease. Do not lecture. Just be consistent. Tell the child, "You have chosen to hit, so I must place you by yourself. We do not hit. The rule is "no hitting". Whenever you choose to hit, you will be all alone." Do not get more complex than that at this age. Do not tell the child that s/he is a bad child. However, you may tell the child that hitting is bad. If you are united, consistent, age appropriate and well informed, the hitting behavior will likely abate. If it does not, you may have to consult further with a professional to look at family issues and/or schooling services to further determine what can be done. One caveat! If your child throws a tantrum, as hard as it may be, give the child space to have the crying and screaming he or she needs. Do not give in by giving up. Cover your ears and you will win! Make your mantra, "C-o-n-s-i-s-t-e-n-c-y" and you will find the key!