Give your child things to do that require placement of objects to the right or left of something. "Jimmy, put those books to the left of the stove" or "Susie, is the tape recorder to the right or to the left of the flower pot?" or "Where shall we plant the bush-on the right or the left of the tree!" There are many other directional words that can be used again and again with the child: over, under, in front of, behind, on top Of, in, out, above, etc.

A variation of this activity is to let the child hide something and direct you to locate it. A simple rule of the game might be, "No more than two steps in any direction without changing directions."

Make some sheets of arrows. You can easily, inexpensively, and quickly do a group of them. (If you use only one sheet, the child may memorize the page, so a selection of sheets alternated at different times is best.) Use a standard sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 paper or cardboard. Draw a series of arrows pointing either up, down, right, or left. Time your child on how quickly he can call off, in sequence, which way the arrows are pointing.

There are a number of variations to this activity. For example, as the child calls out the direction, he will incorporate arm movements: left (left arm outstretched); right (Tight arm outstretched); up and down (both arms stretched up or down). Once the child has mastered this activity, ask him to give a single jump while calling out the directions and making the appropriate arm movements. The jump should occur at the same time the direction is called out. If this is too difficult, eliminate the jumps until later.

A poor understanding of space can even affect a child's ability to read from left to right. Talk with your child's teacher about allowing him to use the index finger of his preferred hand to "track" the words across the line of print as he is reading. Not only will it help him to organize space, but it will strengthen left-to-right movements of the eyes across the page. When you are reading to your child (and it is hoped that this is a frequent occurrence in your home), track the words with your finger to show him that reading occurs from left to right.

As with other things you do with your child at home, keep the activities low-keyed, enjoyable, and non-threatening. Be gentle, take it one step at a time, and don't scold. Your attitude will rub off on the child. If you seem to be having fun with the various games, your child will enjoy them, too. Set a goal-for example, "I want him to get to know what his right side is" and approach it in as many creative ways as you can think of. You will probably be amazed at the many ideas that will occur to you.

Keep in touch with your child's teacher. (She may have some helpful ideas, too.) Let her know what you are doing and what gains or problems-you are seeing in your child.