Family Corner

What can you say when your child says, "I am Dumb"

Perhaps he's earned a poor grade on a history test. Perhaps she just can't seem to figure out how to solve a math problem. Suddenly your child looks at you and says " I am just not smart" . How do you answer?

In" what do we say? What do we do?" Dorothy Rich offers some suggestions of things you might say to your child. Start by pointing out that there are different ways to be smart.

You might say something like this "Think about the kids in your class. They are different, and they are all good at different things. Some kids can learn math but they can't figure out music. Some kids can look at a word and know how to spell it right away. Others have to spell it over and over".

"That's part of what makes each of us special. And even though itwould be nice to be the best at everything. We just have to work the gifts we have. We can't expect to be like everyone else, and we don't need to be, either"