Child not focusing in class

[ashley]

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?

[sashimi]

Sounds like short attention span, which is increasingly common these days - even among adults(!). Can you provide us more details, like exactly how she behaves; any specific scenarios?

[Addoil]

Hi ashley


How abt at home? when you get her to do her homework, will she able to focus?

[Poonie]

Ashley

May I ask if your child was previously in a montessori curriculum in kindy? If she was that could explain the short attention span. I’ve heard from some primary school teachers that they realise that most kids from montessori kindies tend to have shorter attention span and more impatient. But I am sure your child will out-grow this phase quite fast usually by early P2. Meanwhile you can train her at home by encouraging her to do an activity for a slightly longer period of time, extending the period longer gradually.

[H2O]

my story to share.


My son has pretty short attention span. He couldn’t sit still to do any of his school or home work.

It was until we found that he loves drawing a lot.

We then started to engage him into drawing session at home. He gradually improved his attention span from there.

He is in P1 now.

[H2O]

YOu may want to check this website:


http://www.ehow.com/how_2079557_increase-childs-attention-span.html

[gigue]

H2O:

YOu may want to check this website:


http://www.ehow.com/how_2079557_increase-childs-attention-span.html

Thanks H20, this website is helpful!

[gigue]

ashley:

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?

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).

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!

[buds]

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!

[gigue]

Thanks buds for your list of strategies!