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By now, the daily ride on that big yellow school bus has most likely become a familiar part of your child's day After an initial period of adjustment; children should find school enjoyable .at least on most days! In school, your child is not only acquiring knowledge, but also self- confidence and a heightened sense of the need for rules and fair play. This is also an exciting time for parents; it's fun to hear from your child about "how my day went and what I learned", and to praise him on his accomplishments.

Naturally, there are some children who seem to perform better than others in school. There are a number of reasons why some children may not perform at the level we expect them to. One possible reason, much talked about in the last several years, is Attention Deficit- Hyperactivity Disorder, or AD HD. Children of either sex can have ADHD, though the disorder is more common in boys. It is made up of three main behavioral components: hyperactivity, shortened attention span and impulsivity. The tendency to have ADHD can sometimes run in families. Children with ADHD benefit from consistent discipline practices at home, individualized behavior modification both at home and at school, and in some cases, from the use of stimulant medications such as Ritalin and Cylert.

If you are concerned that your child may have ADHD, feel free to bring this up with us. Keep in mind that most 6-7 year old children are hyperactive, inattentive and impulsive at times compared with adults. Its children at the extremes of these behaviors who may have ADHD. Also, remember that medications like Ritalin do not "cure" ADHD; the main reason for prescribing them is to allow the child with ADHD to perform well in school until they eventually outgrow - and most eventually do - the disorder.

Developmentally, at this age your child should be able to throw, catch and bounce a ball, ride a bicycle, and tie her shoelaces. She should also be able to count up to 10 or beyond, print some numbers and print his/her first name.

By the age 6-7 most children are able to go through the night without wetting the bed. If bedwetting is still a frequent problem for your child, let us know. At this age a bedwetting alarm may be useful. Such alarms are generally more successful than medications at controlling bedwetting; they are also, in the long run, less costly than medications.

Your child is now old enough to follow rules at home with respect to bedtime, TV watching, etc. He is also old enough to have simple daily or weekly chores assigned to him, such as setting the table or keeping his room clean.

Fin ally, this is a good age at which to stress and review safety measures with your child. Make sure he/she knows to always use a seatbelt and bicycle helmet. Talk about pool safety If there are firearms in your home, check to see that they are stored unloaded and in a place where your child cannot reach them.