Q My youngest sister just relocated from Canada and wants my children to play with her special-needs child. Her daughter is 12 years old, but acts like a four-year-old. My children are 10 and eight. I am afraid that they will not be com-fortable around my niece as they only met her a few months ago. What should I do?

AIt is quite okay for your children to play with your niece. She may act younger but she is still a child who needs love, attention and socialisation. Remember, all the children are cousins and need to know each other. If it is that there are some issues between you and your sister that are unresolved, you need to deal with them. Are you afraid of the disability that your sister's daughter has? If you are fearful of what seems to be a mental disability, please get information about the disorder and educate your children on how they can be caring and responsible around your niece.

QWhere in Jamaica are there specialised ser-vices for children who require speech therapy?

A The speech and language therapist helps children and adults with auditory processing disorders (problems with hearing and understanding), which are characterised by difficulty in the ability to attend to, process, comprehend, retain, respond to, or integrate spoken language. They also help persons who are autistic, those who stutter and others who have problems pronouncing words, phrases, sentences and conversations.

You can call the Mico Child Assessment and Research in Education (CARE) Centre at 929-7720; the Speech and Language Essentials at 774-9923, or visit Promise Learning Centre, 1A North Avenue, Kingston, for speech and language services.

QMy 12-year-old is getting very anxious as Grade-Six Achievement Test (GSAT) approaches. I do not know what to do. She thinks that she will fail and go to a school that is not so reputable. Her brother and sister did well. It is obvious that she is not as smart as they are. She is very nervous.

ATalk with your daughter and see if there are any other fears that she has, other than the one about the potential high school. Be positive in the comments you share with her about other things that she might be worried about. Make sure that she understands that you are there for her.

You need to let your daughter know that you only want her to do her best. Ask everyone who lives and visits your home to be very positive towards her by making encouraging statements when the subject of the GSAT comes up. If your child is still not relaxing after you are being positive at home, visit a child psychologist who can share some relaxation techniques with her.

When you have kids, you get the full package: runny nose, nausea, diarrhoea, gripe and a slew of testy troubles that come with early childhood. The Gleaner's health specialist, Dr Orlean Brown-Earle, has all the answers. Email questions to helpline@gleanerjm.com or send to Ask the Doc, c/o The Gleaner Company, 7 North Street, Kingston.