Q: I have a 7-year-old son who is not reading yet. He has five older brothers in gifted programs, and he's up to par with them when they were age 7, other than reading. Do I wait until he reads well to have him tested?

A: Although very bright children are often early readers, there are many who read late and some who may have reading disabilities. The most famous late reader was Albert Einstein. History indicates he was barely reading in third grade.

It's difficult to determine at your son's age, even with testing, whether he has a disability or is merely a late starter. However, if you wait longer to have him tested, you lose important teaching time for him. It's best to arrange for school or clinical testing immediately, so the appropriate tutoring can be provided as soon as possible. He may catch up rapidly or have a slow time ahead, but either way you'll ascertain that he gets the best opportunities possible.

You should continue to read aloud to him daily so that he learns to love books. Also, most libraries have many children's books that are also recorded. Reading while listening can help your son's reading skills, as well as his love of reading.

For a free newsletter about reading disabilities, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the address below.

Q: How do I help my college freshman grow up? Can you suggest study skills, since learning has always been easy and finishing work on time impossible? She ruined her high school grade point average, but she must turn it around in college.

A: While it's relatively easy for college students to get help with study and time management skills from counselors at college, your daughter has to be motivated to make a commitment to effort.

You could give her some important choices before she enters college. For example, if she plans to attend a four-year college, you could explain that you expect her to take out a loan and pay her own way. If you can manage the finances, you can offer to pay back her loan for her if she performs at her best and gets reasonable grades. Another alternative could be for her to attend a community college while she determines where her interests lie and if she's willing to commit to the hard work that colleges expect. A last, possible choice is for her to try the world of work, before she even begins her education. There's no doubt that the hardest and most boring of jobs would be most effective in helping her recognize the greater advantage of getting a higher education.

If she does choose either a four-year or community college, encourage her to take courses that interest her to start. Motivation improves when young people find their own goals. It may take several choices before she's sure of her direction, but that's normal.

College socializing can easily become a priority to students because there's surely much to learn about life from being with friends. If your daughter's paying for her tuition, she's likely to be more conscientious about class attendance and studying.

For a free newsletter about choosing the right college, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the address below. Dr. Sylvia B. Rimm is the director of the Family Achievement Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, a clinical professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and the author of many books on parenting. More information on raising kids is available at www.sylviarimm.com. Please send questions to: Sylvia B. Rimm on Raising Kids, P.O. Box 32, Watertown, WI 53094 or [email protected]. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.