Rochelle, from Streamwood, had this to say...
   "The entire staff at APL is very down to earth.
     They have a way of putting the kids at ease
     immediately, while still maintaining a high
     level of professionalism."
 
   Patricia, from Palatine, writes..."You all are the
   best. I know that I am not your only customer,
   but you always make me feel that way."
   

   
   Is your child interested in learning the names of letters? Does he look through books and magazines on
   his own? Does he like to  “write” with a pencil or pen? Does he listen attentively during story time? If the
   answer is yes, he may be ready to learn some of the basics of reading. If not, he’s like most preschoolers,
   and will take another year or two to develop the language skills, visual perception, and memory he needs
   to begin formal reading.
 
   Although a few four-year-olds sincerely want to learn to read and will begin to recognize certain familiar
   words, there’s no need to push your child to do so. Even if you succeed in giving him this head start, he
   may not maintain it once school begins. Most early readers lose their advantage over other children
   during the second or third grade, when the other students acquire the same basic skills.
  
   The crucial factor that determines whether a student will do well or not in school is not how aggressively
   he was pushed early on, but rather his own enthusiasm for learning. This passion cannot be  forced on
   a child by teaching him to read at age four. To the contrary, many so-called early learning programs
   interfere with the child’s natural enthusiasm by forcing him to concentrate on tasks for which he’s not yet
   ready.
 
   What’s the most successful approach to early learning? Let your child set his own pace and have fun at
   whatever he’s doing. Don’t drill him on letters, numbers, colors, shapes, or words. Instead, encourage
   his curiosity and tendencies to explore on his own. Read him books that he enjoys, but don’t push him to
   learn the words. Provide him with educational experiences, but make sure they’re also entertaining.
 
   When your child is ready to learn letters and reading, there are plenty of valuable tools to help him -
   educational television programs, games, songs, and even some of the latest age-appropriate video
   games and DVDs. But don’t expect them to do the job alone. You need to be involved, too. If he’s
   watching an educational TV show, for example, sit with him and talk about the concepts and information
   being presented. If he’s playing with a computer program, do it with him so you can make sure it’s
   appropriate for his abilities. If the game is too frustrating for him, it may diminish some of his enthusiasm
   and defeat the whole purpose. Active learning in a warm, supportive environment is the key to success.
  

     Wash face no more than twice daily with gentle non-soap cleanser like Cetaphil or Dove. Wash gently!
     Vigorous scrubbing can damage skin. Use a non-pore clogging moisturizer daily. Being too dry can be
     as bad as being too oily, so don’t skip this important step.   

     If mild acne has started, over-the-counter (OTC) benzyl peroxide or salicylic acid treatments can work.
     Brand names include Oxy Products/Neutrogena/Proactive, but generics work just as well. Use these
     products once a day at first to see how skin reacts, then use twice a day (unless otherwise stated on
     packaging.) These products are drying to the healthy skin around the pimples so don’t forget to
     moisturize! They can also bleach clothing and bedding. 

     When to see your Pediatrician
     With mild to moderate acne, prescription gels and creams are very effective. These prescriptions work
     by unclogging pores, killing bacteria, and decreasing oil. If OTC treatments have failed after 2-3 months,
     we can evaluate acne and prescribe prescription strength creams and gels.

     When to see your Dermatologist
     With moderate to severe acne very large painful pimples and cysts can occur. These are often best
     treated by a dermatologist with oral medications to help prevent scaring. If you think your child has
     severe acne, ask us for a referral to a dermatologist.

     The key to acne treatment is to stay faithful to the regiment. Remember to wash and moisturize daily.
     Skin can be slow to respond. On average it takes 6-8 weeks for any acne treatment to work. So be
     patient and stick with it!
 

     Below are a few jokes we found
     funny. Let us know if you have any
     good ones for our next issue.
 
    What has a neck but no head -
    two arms but no hands?
    A shirt.