genius

Sometimes, very rarely, I have a moment of parenting genius.  A moment when I do exactly the right thing and it works perfectly.  It doesn't happen very often, so I have to document and share it.  Last week I had one of those moments.

I was helping my Kindergartner with his homework.  He has a hard time remembering which way his b's and d's face.  This is totally normal, and most teachers and tests don't even count it as a mistake until 1st or 2nd grade.  But he was frustrated and didn't want to have to keep asking me which way a D goes.

We've also been learning the alphabet in sign-language, mostly because I knew it growing up and thought my kids should too.

SO:  If you can't remember which way a D goes and you are writing something, just look at your hand.  Does your hand remember?  (pointer finger pops up) I DO! I DO! And you are making a d with your hand.  He thought it was hilarious and he hasn't had a problem with it since.

p.s. If you have a lefty, just make sure you tell him that his writing hand only remembers the letter B - the letter it learned first - hands have a short memory like that.  OR if you know sign language, (and know that the letter b is different) tell him his writing hand is too busy, and he should ask his other hand, which should be on the desk anyway, holding the paper still.