Child not focusing in class
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ashley:
Hi ashley, I agree with sashimi - it seems like your child has short attention span (because my 5-yr-old son is also like that - got the same feedback from teacher).My child has focusing problems. She can't focus in class and concentrate. Teachers had feedback to me that she is slow in her work as in completion of work in class.
She is in P1. how to rectify and help her?
Some of the things that I picked up from his occupational therapy sessions:
- Designate a conducive place for doing work
- Keep the working table neat (reduce clutter like unnecessary stationery, books, etc.)
- Before starting work, create a check list of activities that the child is required to do (for a 5yr-old, it's about 5 tasks, amounting to about 20 - 30 mins). Go through the tasks with the child. Once the child completes one item, let him/her check it off.
- My son's OT has this 'mantra' for him - 'keep going, keep going until you finish'. She keeps reminding him and encouraging him to do so.
- When the tasks are completed, reward your child (with a snack, a game, etc.)
- At the beginning, all these are done with one-to-one with a parent. Gradually, when you think that your child is able to focus on a task by him/herself for a while, leave him/her to do it without you. See how long you can 'disappear'. The length should gradually increase with time.
These are some of the things my son's OT taught me to do. Hope that it is helpful for you!
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Errrmm… on the contrary to hearsay, Montessori children are guided
TO DEVELOP attention span, and not the short of it, really. Children
in Montessori centres enjoy repetitive play which encourages working
at child’s own pace and individualised attention on activities esp the
ones they like. A Montessori child would develop good discipline for
seat-activities as the learning environment prepares them for such,
and with the least response to any form of distractions.
Extending durations of task may not result in positive response from
an already non-focussed child. Agree with gigue that observing task
oriented style will be a more efficient way. Projecting the idea of
accomplishments (of what she CAN do) is more positive compared
to what she cannot do.
A checklist if you may provide… and may come with tokens as rewards.
The tokens can be stickers, more one-on-one quality play time with
yourself or snacks like gigue recommends, depending on what your
child prefers.
For assignments and worksheets,
>simplify directions
>provide extra time to complete tasks
>hand worksheets one at a time
>shorten assignments
>break work into small parts
>teach time management principles
>don’t grade handwriting
>praise specific behaviours
>give extra privileges/rewards
>cue child to stay on task
On the occasions where there isn’t work to be done.
Have child enjoy more sleep/rest time and also the
most under-rated thing of all - to play. Outdoors if
you have time for such activities. Child may also still
be in the adjustment phase in P1. Can give her some
time to fit into the always seated kinda learning structure.
Or possibly, the teacher is boring! Hahaa! -
Thanks buds for your list of strategies!
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You're welcome, gigue.
Just hope the sharing helps.
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ashley:
bring her to Sg Health Promotion board, to check : see whether is she ADD ?My child has focusing problems. She can't focus in class and concentrate. Teachers had feedback to me that she is slow in her work as in completion of work in class.
She is in P1. how to rectify and help her?
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