At least half of my kindergarten-through-third-grade patients are six months to a year behind, based on my evaluations. The implications are huge: Kids who can’t read competently by the end of third grade are handicapped in their ability to succeed in school. I encourage families to read to their children daily and share their concerns about kids falling behind and becoming discouraged. The solutions will lie in returning to school, family involvement in that process and patience. The writer is president of the Child and Teen Wellness Center and past president of the Maryland Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics.

Source: International New York Times August 15, 2021 15:00 UTC