Remember, helping your child with a computer at home isn't exclusively about using so called `educational software' like they do at school to teach spelling, maths or geography. Parents can often provide more help by encouraging their children to simply use computers more actively and creatively as they are, or will be, used in real world and to develop creative study and research skills that will complement and enhance their learning experience at school. To do that, you need to give your kids their best chance possible by getting them a really good multimedia PC.

But to prepare your children for future, you need more than hardware and software. The most important thing is to think about what they do with PC and what you can do to help. Don't worry about starting children too early. As soon as they can control their hands, children will find things to do with a computer.

It's not unusual to see three and four-year old happily working with paint programs and even creating and saving files. In many respects, having a computer at home can help older children with their school work in nearly every subject, just as having books at home helps them with reading and research. And because of its increasingly multimedia and interactive capabilities, a PC can provide a creative focus or outlet for even difficult children with no apparent interest in traditional education.

This concern about `giving kids best' for their education is an emotion that computer manufacturers are more than happy to exploit, with many of them offering PCs that are hyped as `ideal tool for education'. Then, of course, there's fact that more than a few parents use their kid's education as a way to justify buying a PC so they can play Doom. But hardware you buy is only half story and where home computers are concerned, bundled software is just as important as hardware.

It used to be that computer manufacturers interpreted phrase `for educational use' as meaning `last year's leftover stock with a copy of Encarta chunked in'. However, as home market has boomed, some manufacturers have come to realize that education has its own needs, and are producing systems that combine powerful hardware with a good range of bundled software with an obvious educational or informative bent.

7. Decide who's coming with you -- IEPs tend to be extremely anxiety provoking for parents. When you are experiencing a lot of emotion it is unlikely that you will be able to absorb all information be given to you. Having someone else there who can listen to discussion & take notes will free you up to participate in discussion & focus on your own agenda.

8. What about taping meeting -- Recording IEP meetings can be a touchy issue for many school districts. However, if you cannot find anyone to come with you to meeting you may want to consider tape recording it so that you can refer back to discussion after you're home & calm. One caution, you will need to notify school that you would like to tape record meeting. Explain that it will be only for your reference & ask if there are any school guidelines or policies that you should be aware of regarding taping. Start this process as soon as you've been notified about meeting as some school districts have time guidelines that notice of recording must be given at least X amount of time before meeting.

9. Determine your child's participation - If you see a future of self-advocacy for your child, then it is important to involve them in IEPs as early as possible. This will let them watch your advocacy skills & learn by imitation. It also give you opportunity to get their input on what & how they would like to learn. If you aren't comfortable with your child attending meeting, then consider how their presence can be felt by proxy. Two ways recommended by other parents are:

A) Bring your child's picture & set it in center of table - this should effectively remind everyone at table that decisions made will impact life of a real person & shouldn't be arbitrary or for convenience sake.

B) Bring your child's portfolio -- originally developed to introduce new teachers to your child, portfolio illustrates all that is unique & special about your child. This is a wonderful way to remind participants that everyone has strengths & special qualities to bring to "table of life". Check out sample portfolio in our web resource section for ideas on how to do this.

10. Review your rights! -- Right before you attend a meeting filled with professionals is perfect time to read again how federal laws "see" your role as parent. It will reinforce your feeling of importance within team & also ensure that no one surprises you with any "questionable" tactics during meeting.

If you have completed all 10 steps you should be feeling pretty prepared. Now you can go into that conference room with confidence knowing that you are ultimate "expert" on your child!

Copyright 2000, Lisa Simmons