How to Teach your kid to focus in class?

[e3nity]

LJHLJH:

Hi,

I tried the supernanny style for a while - the naughty corner. But realised it didn't work during homework time, as my boy chose to sit in the naughty corner rather than sitting at the table to do his work ! Anything to get away from the home work table.

But I agree on the other techniques of routine, boundaries, warnings, explanation.

Yup i agree too.. some works some done.. how how how.. :stupid: :stupid: gg P1 next yr.. so worrying..

[cherrygal]

Buy more parenting books and read, eg. James Dobson’s "Bringing Up Boys". You’ll learn that boys behave very differently from gals, especially when they are young.


My boy also can’t sit still at home. Your boy is normal if he can sit still to watch TV, read a storybook or complete given tasks at K2.

If his K2 teacher thinks he’s normal, then don’t listen to "brain enrichment centres" who just want to earn your hard-earned money to "open his brain".

DS is very playful and the teacher also mentioned he needs to pay more attention in class. But I don’t worry too much as I know he has a competitive streak which I encouraged from young. I make it his responsibility to do well by giving him lots of pep talks. So far, he’s doing well enough despite not paying full attention. I told him, if he wants me to stop nagging, just show me the results and I will keep quiet even if he watches TV the whole day.

I spoke to many older parents with sons that were very playful but have now succeeded in their studies, and they all told me these boys must be disciplined (with boundaries, maybe caning and scoldings can be included in the Asian context) and given lots of coaching (academic tuition, not so much enrichment) in their early years. The boys usually bloom later at around P5.

What I am saying is, hang in there. Don’t be overly worried and just do your best as a parent. Don’t push them too hard too as weaker kids can end up mentally tortured.

[Shera]

Getting kids to focus may pose great challenge to parents.


Here are my several practice:

- praise him
- hug him
- letting him know how you feel towards his behaviour
- let him understand more if we switch roles
- pretend not to see (only when you know he is seeking attention)
- revise with him of the nos even when he is not doing so

sometimes, I will also thank him for his understanding

Anyone can share more ideas :lol:

[Ivy Ang Siow Kia]

Hi,


Ya, my son also very bad at focusing until he reach 7 years old. I sent him for asessment at KKh too, for about 3 mths and I picked up some very useful tactics to handle my child in terms of focusing during work, when someone is talking to him etc. I used them consistantly even until today.

He can't finish a piece of worksheet by himself and couldn't focus for more than 5 mins. He would feel stressed and complain of chest pain, which is worrying. I had shared with the childcare centre which he was previously attending and even to his current P1 teacher, the childcare centre was supportive and applied the tactics and find it useful too and his concentration span improved. It needs a lot of constant reminders, and its hard work for the dedicated teachers. We have to put in alot of efforts as well.

If anyone of u want me to share the tactics, please pm me.


Ivy

[DaddyKids]

Hi all,


Is this something only common to boys? :?

My Son is at a full day child care. While he is interested in activities, he is unable to concentrate. His teachers said that he sometimes move around the class or move to a table and take his nap while the rest of the kids sat on the floor.

When his Chinese teacher speaks to him, he runs away.

Tried some of the supernanny techniques but it usually works only for a short while.

Any suggestions?

[Leoleo18]

Hi


My boy who is P1 this year , also have the same problem.
During the mid year parent meeting session, the form teacher told me that my boy had short attention span (which i agreed as this is not the first feedback). The teacher said that he cant stop talking in class which caused disturbance to the class and progress in the lessons. I also realised that while doing his work, he will take his own time. I have sent him to many difference kind of enrichment / tution classes, feedback from the teacher is his attention span and he refuse to do his work in the class. He can stare at the book but no work done.
I'm not sure how can I get him to focus. I believe he is doesnt belong to hyper-active group as he can FOCUS very well when he is watching TV or playing games. He can sit there for an hour or two.
Any parents can help me! Greatly appreciate any tips on how to handle my boy.
Thanks :?:

[pingathot]

Hello parents

I think most boys and even some girls are like that. I have the same problem with my boy when he was young. Now he is 10 and sometimes still day-dream during class, but teacher is quick to pull him back. You have to inform all teachers and request to let him sit in front. So far this year, we have good feedbacks from teachers and his concentration has improved. Maybe from young, we have sent him to abacuss class, chess and golf. I think all these activities do some part too. That’s mine point of view.

[Chenonceau]

e3nity, my son at that age was also very lively. I made sure I gave him enough physical activity on a daily basis so that he could sit still. From being able to sit still (from tiredness), he actually did learn to sit still.

[e3nity]

DS went to KKH for assessment… he is active but the result was that he may be active but not hyper active… many parents got confused between attention deficiency and oppositional disorder… the docs suggested that DS could be oppositional behaviour which make him not sitting down… i’m hopin the therapy will work on him…


oppositional behavior: he knows its wrong to run about but he does it in purpose… he got to do his work but he purposely tries his luck by being in corperative…

[hexagon]

e3nity:

DS went to KKH for assessment.. he is active but the result was that he may be active but not hyper active.. many parents got confused between attention deficiency and oppositional disorder.. the docs suggested that DS could be oppositional behaviour which make him not sitting down.. i'm hopin the therapy will work on him..


oppositional behavior: he knows its wrong to run about but he does it in purpose.. he got to do his work but he purposely tries his luck by being in corperative..

Sounds like my son has oppositional behaviour disorder. He is in P6 now. He has always been doing the opposite and challenging me since he was 18mths old. He was also defiant and i thought he was a pre-matured teenager at age 3. When he was in kindergarten, he was also always walking around. The only thing that can keep him still is reading. So that rules out ADHD.

At P1 and P2, in order to prevent him from disturbing his classmates when everyone was sitting on the floor and the teacher was teaching in front of the class, he was allowed to remain in his seat to read quietly and hopefully absorbed whatever that was being taught. As for homework, he did them quickly in school so that he can come home to play the whole time. That worked out well, he went on to score full marks for math for 2 yrs. It turned out that he was bored in class and thus the walking around and lack of focus. He also has an unusual learning style whereby he looks like he is not paying attention eg playing with his stationery, reading, not looking at teacher etc but is actually absorbing (i hope).

However, as he progresses and the workload became heavier and tougher (he is in GEP), his habit of reading in class and unusual learning style (lack of focus according to the teachers) has put my HP number in all his teachers' speed dial.

He is not allowed to read in class since P4 cos his results has deteriorated and he is now only average in class due to his lack of focus and motivation. So far two things that can keep him focus in class is constant reminder (calling his name, getting his friends to remind him) and quizzes or competition.

We have tried many methods like having a time table, rewards, punishment, withdrawal of privileges, facing own consequences, prep talk, motivation talk, sleep talk, \"you will end up a road sweeper\" talk, no talk (cold war), nagging, scolding, set ground rules, being consistent and not giving in.

Since this is THE crucial PSLE year, we have resort to sitting with him when we have time and behaving like a broken record when we dont. The other thing we are doing is to allow him to have constant short breaks in between doing his homework/studying to eat or drink or read. Breaking the work up into smaller chunks seems less daunting and less boring.

Am still searching for the best way to get him to focus in class and be motivated. But am prepared to accept the fact that he is just wired this way and we should accept him as what he is.