Next week, I have to say goodbye for the summer to the little boy that I mentor. I don’t know about you, but I hate saying goodbye, especially since I do not know what his summer plans will include. Who will watch him during the day? What will he eat? Will he be back next year? I imagine his little mind is full of the same types of questions. There are many things that I can do as a mentor to help with this transition period. One idea is to send your child home with a small stuffed animal and a journal. Ask them to write about the activities that they do with their new stuffed animal. This activity will not only be helpful academically, but it will also remind the child that they have a mentor who loves them and believes in them. As you choose your stuffed animal, keep in mind the age and gender of your child. You may want to send home a rubber snake with an older boy…anything that will encourage them to write, to use their imagination and to stay connected to their mentor!