DR. WALLACE: I am a new parent of a precious child that I would like to help prepare for the world the very best I can, of course.

I've done a lot of reading, studying and talking to friends, relatives and others about raising children. I'm really interested in preparing my child with the best possible skillset to do well at academics and for her to be able to select whatever field of interest she would like to pursue in her life someday.

What do you feel is the most important skill I could help her to develop before she heads off to school someday? — A Hopeful New Parent, via email

A HOPEFUL NEW PARENT: Reading would be at the top of my list of suggestions for you. Just as soon as your child is able to listen to you read afternoon or bedtime stories to her, have her sit next to you so that she can see not only the pictures but the words you are reading. Take your time, go slowly and point at each word as you say it out loud.

You'll be surprised at how much of a sponge a young child's mind truly is. Just taking this extra step of exposure could accelerate her ability to read by up to 12 months or more, in some cases.

Children seem to be very interested in books, stories and reading quite naturally, especially at their young ages. Lean into the tendency by developing her skillset slowly but very gradually and very intentionally. At some point when you feel she may be ready, ask her to see if she can read a few of the words with you as she's reviewing one of her favorite books. You may be quite surprised at the results at an age much earlier than you would've ever anticipated.

I DESERVE TO DATE HER ONE-ON-ONE

DR. WALLACE: I'm a guy who's 16, and I got brave and asked a cute 16-year-old girl at my school if she would like to go out on a date with me. She accepted, and I'm happy to tell you that we are now dating steadily, which means sometimes twice a week for the past several months.

I really enjoy and respect her. It's always so fun for the two of us to hang out, laugh together and share common interests. A couple of our early dates were just the two of us one-on-one, even though her parents kept a loose eye on her in the beginning. For example, we had lunch together at a local mall and did some shopping on our very first date, and her mother drove her to the mall, helped get us set up for the lunch, and then went shopping around the mall and met us at an assigned spot later in the afternoon.

The thing I'm writing to you about today is that for the last six or seven dates in a row, my girlfriend has always wanted to double date with another friend of hers and that friend's boyfriend. I don't mind doing it occasionally, but it seems like she always wants to go out now as a group rather than with me one-on-one. Why do you think this is? Should I break up with her over this, or announce that she needs to allow me to date her "one-on-one" at least every other time we go out? I'm getting pretty tired of the group dating experience. — Interested in Her, Not Them, via email

INTERESTED IN HER, NOT THEM: Dating is a privilege, not a right, especially at your age. I think you would do far better to have a discussion with her about your interests in spending at least some of your dates with her one-on-one rather than "announcing to her" your side of the situation as you see it. Being pushy early on in a relationship can be construed as a red flag, and if you care about this girl, I'd advise you not to do that.

Instead, lean into constructive communication with her. Communication is always the key to one-on-one relationships. In a pleasant tone of voice, simply state your case in the most heartfelt way that you can. You can say, for example, there are times you'd like to talk to her privately rather than always being subjected to a group situation.

Using diplomacy will give you a much better chance of having this relationship work out for the long term versus trying to push her in a direction you state she must go in.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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