What to do with bright 5yo?

[mo2]

I'm not sure how to teach my 5yo. He is super bright, surprising me by knowing things I haven't taught him yet, and picks up on things quickly. But he is a wiggler. He has SPD and is sensory seeking so is *constantly* moving. And I can't keep his focus for very long. (We were told he probably has ADHD but they didn't want to officially give him the diagnosis yet.) Does anyone have advice for teaching a child like this? My older child prefers to sit and do workbooks, so I'm not used to this! I would love book recs, links, advice....anything would help. Thanks!

[txmommyofboys]

My 6 year old can't sit still for long either. My best suggestion: don't make him ;) Let him have small breaks frequently, keep some snacks onhand, an abacus or stress ball to keep his little hands busy while you are reading.

[Rasa]

My life became much easier once I realized that

(1) you can learn a lot without writing it down;

(2) you can solve math problems while jumping on a mini-trampoline.

[cschnee]

Fit balls are great too! Math problems going up the stairs or hidden around the house. Same with reading words. Put them together after to make a sentence...Workbooks can be cut apart to be hidden around the house or yard.

[SilverMoon]

I had one of those. Today he's a bright and still wiggly teenager. :)

 

Some ideas that worked with mine...

-let him do "seatwork" standing up at the table

-short sessions of school spread throughout the day

-make sure he's had good exercise before attempting school-ish anything

-the whiteboard is your friend (Crayola's whiteboard crayons won't stain when he spins and touches everything around him like the markers will. They're wet-erase.)

-manipulatives, manipulatives, manipulatives

[Rosie_0801]

I might consider getting him tested for retained reflexes. My sensory seeking boy has just been diagnosed so that's at the forefront of my mind atm. Of course yours might just be a boy being a boy, but the suggestions of ADHD would send me in that direction.

[mo2]

Thanks everyone for the tips!

 

I might consider getting him tested for retained reflexes. My sensory seeking boy has just been diagnosed so that's at the forefront of my mind atm. Of course yours might just be a boy being a boy, but the suggestions of ADHD would send me in that direction.

 

Retained reflexes....never heard of that one. Off to google. :)

[Bree]

My 6 year old has SPD and probably ADHD too :) She does best with short lessons. Sometimes she drives me crazy because I don't think she is paying attention but she does really pick up things. I try to limit distractions for her too because her mind gets drawn to those things. She also pays better attention if I rub her back when I read. Her SPD is strong with touch related things so you might see if you can play off of your dc senses like if there is something that calms him down to help draw his attention. You might find that MUS would be a good fit since there is visual and manipulatives for them to work with, or I believe Saxon mostly for K has manipulatives which could be good also :)

[...................]

More SPD ideas

 

Thinking Putty

Gum

Snacks and more snacks (healthy, sugar free of course. Our faves are cheese cubes, celery, pretzels, and apple slices.)

Mini tramp (note: only get a good expensive one, try to find one used. The cheap ones are just awful- they feel awful and are bad for bones/ligaments.)

 

 

[LilBearsMama]

Short lessons. Let him move. Nibble on stuff. Fidget toys. 10-15 minute lesson - then go out and run for 10. Come back it might be easier to focus (works for my ADHD BIL when he's having a rough time of things.)

[ItoLina]

My son has one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Isokinetics-Brand-Exercise-Balance-Cushion/dp/B002Z9FV6C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356051586&sr=8-1&keywords=Wiggle+seat

 

It works great to get him to sit for stuff like handwriting practice, where I want him sitting. The rest of the time I let him stand or walk around. I also t

Give him periodic physical tasks, like go move this box from the office to my room for me, and he has to push it down the hall. Or go jump on the bed 10 times, what ever I can think of to get him to expend a little energy, then I can usually get another few minutes out of him.

[mo2]

My son has one of these: http://www.amazon.co...rds=Wiggle seat

 

It works great to get him to sit for stuff like handwriting practice, where I want him sitting. The rest of the time I let him stand or walk around. I also t

Give him periodic physical tasks, like go move this box from the office to my room for me, and he has to push it down the hall. Or go jump on the bed 10 times, what ever I can think of to get him to expend a little energy, then I can usually get another few minutes out of him.

 

The wiggle seat looks great! Thanks!