How do you help your dc focus?

[Pster]

Another school issue....

 

DD7 won't focus - not that she can't - she just gets into daydreams and sings and chatters - and wants to doodle..... I have to keep bringing her back to what she is working on.....etc etc

 

IF she could actually focus on what we are doing - she would get done sooo much faster!! I've told her that but....it doesn't seem to bother her.

 

Any ideas as to how I can keep her moving forwards? I'm already not getting done the school things I want to. Maybe this is one of our problems I can actually fix!

[3lilreds in NC]

She doesn't daydream, so much, as chatter incessantly. She knows she can get me to talk about just about anything, and uses it as a great diversion tactic to keep herself from actually doing school.

 

I have been telling her that we can't chat until school is done and that I won't discuss anything but her assignment. I do have to sit with her every minute or she won't do anything. I guess I would just keep reminding your dd that it's school time and she needs to focus - help her practice with the reminders.

 

Another thing I've heard, which works when I remember to do it, is a timer. I tell both girls they have x amount of time to finish something and then we have to move on. Anything they don't get done will be done in the afternoon when they could have been playing. That's quite effective, actually, especially for a few days after they've had to give up play time to finish their work.

[CalicoKat]

whatever I have on hand.

 

-- a fishy cracker for each problem done correctly

-- a choc. chip for each word read (littles just starting to read)

-- a whole granola bar for finishing their least fav. subject without complaining.

-- TV, Computer, or Playstation time when all school work is done.

 

 

Bribing helps them understand that I know it's tough and working towards a goal helps them stay focused. It helps if they can help choose their reward (with reasonable limits).

 

This usually works. In extreme cases we have a coffee break. A couple of my kids are ADHDers and the caffeine helps them to focus. I've got to be careful though because it has backfired a couple times. :) The non ADHDers get too wound up and egg on the rest!

[Rhonda in TX]

Using a timer has really, really helped my ADD son. It took a couple of weeks, but he now gets his work done in the allotted time. If he doesn't finish, it's assigned as "homework" once everything else is done. He just hates having work to do when his sister is done and playing.

 

EDIT: I should have mentioned that he doesn't always get in done, but it's happening more and more often. It used to be an all-day battle for subjects like math. Also, if he finishes early, he gets the leftover time as free time.