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How to Help
a Child who has a Hard Time Focusing on his
or her Homework
As a
former nanny, I thought I'd share a couple
of tips for children who have a difficult
time focusing on their homework. This can be
helpful for children with ADD or ADHD.
Tip #1: Homework
should be done in a place that is
comfortable but has the least amount of
simulation, visually and audibly. A bedroom
where toys are can be a distraction. I
suggest you pick the barest room possible
where no one is talking and where the radio,
computer and television are all completely
turned off. If you have two children, put
them in different rooms. I've found that
children find dining rooms generally boring,
and therefore are less likely to look about
so much and get up to touch things. If you
have knick-knacks around, move them.
Tip #2: Limit the time
your child spends on a homework task. If the
math they brought home would normally take
half hour for a child who can concentrate
well, your child might need three 15 minute
time periods. Use an oven or egg timer to
count down the time. After 15 minutes, let
your child take a short break. They can
stretch, do jumping jacks, eat a snack or
some other small respite. Do not encourage a
board game or watching T.V. This break is
only meant to be a breather. So they can
learn to refocus. Do not get frustrated if
your child has trouble with any of the 15
minute intervals. If need be cut down to ten
minutes. It is far better to get something
done in ten minutes, than for him or her get
almost nothing done in forty-five minutes.
It's not worth the aggravation. To either of
you.
Remember if you're
getting frustrated about the homework
situation you're not adding anything
positive to it. If need be go to another
room, count to ten or twenty and calmly come
back in and check on your child. If they're
daydreaming, playing with their pencil,
flipping on and off the light switch… gently
remind your child to stay on task. (You can
always tape the cover of your light switch
shut.) If you would like, you can at another
time though not a hectic one (you're running
late for school), talk to your child about
small rewards for staying on task. You can
have a bag of marbles and every time your
child focuses on their homework for 15
minutes they get to put a marble in a jar (5
marbles can equal a special game with you or
15 minutes of computer time). This means
even if your child doesn't stay on task for
all three 15 minute time periods, they're
still rewarded for the one or two times they
do. It gives them motivation and a positive
outlook they can indeed focus. Do not
reinforce that they can't focus. Most
children can focus in varying degrees.
If your child is
seriously struggling to get their homework
done and can't, please talk to their teacher
about shortening their homework. Maybe
instead of doing 30 math problems, your
child can do 10. I believe if your child is
having a really difficult time focusing on
their homework, there's a strong likelihood
they're also having a difficult time
focusing on their schoolwork as well. A
conscientious teacher will pick up on this
and want to work with you. If you don't have
a teacher who will work with you I encourage
you to meet with your principle. You're your
child’s voice.
Point to think about:
I know of lawyers today who didn't finish
their homework back in grade school and
junior high, who SOMEHOW managed to
finish law school and pass the bar. The
lesson here: Finishing grade school and
junior high homework is not the be all and
end all to your child's future. So stop
making it like it's the end of world if they
can't finish it; especially if they're
trying to the best of THEIR ability. Please
note how I wrote "their" ability and not
"yours."
I have a B.A. in
Sociology and I'm a former nanny to children
with parents in the entertainment
industry. If you are having problems with a
child with ADHD or ADD then look into
Total Focus.
Scroll down on their site for a
free trial. You
only pay shipping and handling. You can read reviews on my site
for it at
Harmony-in-the-Home.
Also visit my blog at
parentingtipsandmore.blogspot.com |
