My 4 year-old sometimes writes backwards - should I be worried?
Your son is at the very early stages of learning to write and at this age it is very common for children to write backwards. You shouldn't be worried as this should rectify itself.

My son is left-handed - is there anything special I need to do?
I can identify with left-handers, as I am one myself! For younger children starting to draw and write, it is very important to get them started with the correct grip and writing position. A moulded pencil grip or triangular bodied pencils and pens can help a lot, as can oversized pencils and pens as they encourage the critical "tri-point grip". Stabilo do a super range of pens for left-handed children.

My 7 year-old muddles b and d - is she dyslexic?
Not necessarily - it is quite common for children to muddle up their b's and d's in the lower end of the primary school. However, if your daughter is still confusing her letters when she is in Year 3 or 4 then you might want to check with the teacher. It is often when children are tired that they confuse some letters.

My 10 year-old only reads comics - is this a problem?
Ideally you want your child to be reading a variety of different genres of reading. However, one argument is that it is better that he is reading something, even if it is comics - Try to be led by his interests and choose books together that might get him back into reading different texts.

My child really doesn't like reading - what can I do?
Not all children enjoy learning to read and this can be frustrating for both you and your child. Try to choose books or other materials about a subject or a character your child likes. Reading about something they are interested in will help motivate your child and add to the enjoyment. Encourage reading for a real purpose with your child. Read a recipe and make a cake, or read some instructions for playing a game or making a model. Remember, if your child really isn't enjoying reading, it's best to stop and try again later. Both of you need to be relaxed and happy.

What can I do to make sure my child understands what he is reading?
Some children can read aloud quite well, but often they don't understand what they are reading. Sometimes they don't notice when they make a mistake or when what they read doesn't make sense. Spend time talking about what a book might be about before your child starts reading. Talk about the book as you read it together. Ask questions to make sure your child understands what is happening. If your child makes a mistake, encourage them to say the sentence again and ask, 'does that make sense?'

My child is bilingual - we speak French at home. I don't want to confuse him. In what language should I read to him?
Being bilingual will be to your son's advantage in the future so continue to speak to him in French. It is also a good idea to read French books to him as well as English books. He will naturally learn to read English at school but children are very good at learning 2 languages at once - better than adults!