Re: What can help to increase focus and attention?

[Guest guest]

A timer - a kitchen egg timer...

" we are going to color/read/bathe until the timer goes off "

Also helps with counting

On Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 2:01 PM, melody_autumn06 <melodyh2006@...> wrote:

 

What can be done to help your child increase focus and attention on tasks? (i.e. focus/attention on non-preferred activities, school tasks..) Any ideas you can share? My son is 3 1/2yo and can use some help in this area.

Thanks,

-- Kate Myers

[Guest guest]

A timer - a kitchen egg timer...

" we are going to color/read/bathe until the timer goes off "

Also helps with counting

On Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 2:01 PM, melody_autumn06 <melodyh2006@...> wrote:

 

What can be done to help your child increase focus and attention on tasks? (i.e. focus/attention on non-preferred activities, school tasks..) Any ideas you can share? My son is 3 1/2yo and can use some help in this area.

Thanks,

-- Kate Myers

[Guest guest]

A picture Sceduale another one we use is a "first this - then that" -- is three...and he will calm when we say 'first we eat, then we go get Lily", etc.... -- He says it now to self-soothe

e

From: Kate Myers <katemyersny@...>autism Sent: Thu, November 12, 2009 1:03:44 PMSubject: Re: What can help to increase focus and attention?

A timer - a kitchen egg timer...

"we are going to color/read/bathe until the timer goes off"

Also helps with counting

On Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 2:01 PM, melody_autumn06 <melodyh2006> wrote:

What can be done to help your child increase focus and attention on tasks? (i.e. focus/attention on non-preferred activities, school tasks..) Any ideas you can share? My son is 3 1/2yo and can use some help in this area.Thanks,

-- Kate Myers

[Guest guest]

A picture Sceduale another one we use is a "first this - then that" -- is three...and he will calm when we say 'first we eat, then we go get Lily", etc.... -- He says it now to self-soothe

e

From: Kate Myers <katemyersny@...>autism Sent: Thu, November 12, 2009 1:03:44 PMSubject: Re: What can help to increase focus and attention?

A timer - a kitchen egg timer...

"we are going to color/read/bathe until the timer goes off"

Also helps with counting

On Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 2:01 PM, melody_autumn06 <melodyh2006> wrote:

What can be done to help your child increase focus and attention on tasks? (i.e. focus/attention on non-preferred activities, school tasks..) Any ideas you can share? My son is 3 1/2yo and can use some help in this area.Thanks,

-- Kate Myers

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Not that it always works, but breaking things up into smaller chunks of time or smaller tasks.

We would also "run with it" if things were going well.

As far as "increasing" focus,etc,,,,,,,,,,we've never found anything except meds to actually increase the focus. So, if you're willing to use meds, it can work if it's the right one.

We've been on them and off them.

But with "non-preferred" tasks...he he............well, I think we all need help with focusing on things we couldn't care a less about. Let me know when you find something that works for that!!! he he.

Robin

From: melody_autumn06 <melodyh2006@...>Subject: ( ) What can help to increase focus and attention? Date: Thursday, November 12, 2009, 1:12 PM

What can be done to help your child increase focus and attention on tasks? (i.e. focus/attention on non-preferred activities, school tasks..) Any ideas you can share? My son is 3 1/2yo and can use some help in this area.Thanks,

[Guest guest]

Do you really think any 3.5 year old can focus that much, let alone one with

attention problems? Anyway, I find with my 11 year old that bribery helps. You

can bribe him with some of his favorive activities if he focuses on the activity

he doesn't want to do. You can also try to incorporate some of his favorite

topics into the things he doesn't want to do. Does he like fish? Try to get

him to tell you the color, or the number or the type of fish. Does he like

cars? Have him count the wheels, or write the name of the car down. Anything

that includes his favorite passion will help.

>

> What can be done to help your child increase focus and attention on tasks?

(i.e. focus/attention on non-preferred activities, school tasks..) Any ideas

you can share?

>

> My son is 3 1/2yo and can use some help in this area.

>

> Thanks,

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm having problems like this with my 6 yr old, he has decided when he is asked to do anything in school, if he doesn't want to do it he puts his head on the desk, says I'm tired and pretends to sleep. Don't know how to motivate him. or is this down to his teacher?

From: maryahmaki <maryahmaki@...>Subject: ( ) Re: What can help to increase focus and attention? Date: Saturday, 14 November, 2009, 6:55

Do you really think any 3.5 year old can focus that much, let alone one with attention problems? Anyway, I find with my 11 year old that bribery helps. You can bribe him with some of his favorive activities if he focuses on the activity he doesn't want to do. You can also try to incorporate some of his favorite topics into the things he doesn't want to do. Does he like fish? Try to get him to tell you the color, or the number or the type of fish. Does he like cars? Have him count the wheels, or write the name of the car down. Anything that includes his favorite passion will help.>> What can be done to help your child increase focus and attention on tasks? (i.e.

focus/attention on non-preferred activities, school tasks..) Any ideas you can share? > > My son is 3 1/2yo and can use some help in this area.> > Thanks,> >

[Guest guest]

On the upside what a great way to communicate his needs! I am in a similar situation with my six year old, school is boring and doesn't challenge him. I'll be watching the responses to your post because someone will have an idea that will help out my DS.

From: Lorraine son <lorrainedavidson12@...> Sent: Mon, November 16, 2009 3:57:59 AMSubject: Re: ( ) Re: What can help to increase focus and attention?

I'm having problems like this with my 6 yr old, he has decided when he is asked to do anything in school, if he doesn't want to do it he puts his head on the desk, says I'm tired and pretends to sleep. Don't know how to motivate him. or is this down to his teacher?

From: maryahmaki <maryahmaki (DOT) com>Subject: ( ) Re: What can help to increase focus and attention? Date: Saturday, 14 November, 2009, 6:55

Do you really think any 3.5 year old can focus that much, let alone one with attention problems? Anyway, I find with my 11 year old that bribery helps. You can bribe him with some of his favorive activities if he focuses on the activity he doesn't want to do. You can also try to incorporate some of his favorite topics into the things he doesn't want to do. Does he like fish? Try to get him to tell you the color, or the number or the type of fish. Does he like cars? Have him count the wheels, or write the name of the car down. Anything that includes his favorite passion will help.>> What can be done to help your child increase focus and attention on tasks? (i.e. focus/attention on non-preferred activities, school

tasks..) Any ideas you can share? > > My son is 3 1/2yo and can use some help in this area.> > Thanks,> >

The new Internet Explorer® 8 - Faster, safer, easier. Optimized for Get it Now for Free!

[Guest guest]

I have two of those types here. lol. How many times did I get called

in and told that my kid was sleeping in class!! There are several

reasons why in our cases. Sometimes they are so lost, they give up

trying. This is usually the older kids because they have tried year

after year and they realize it isn't worth the effort by now. In this

case, they need more help to learn the material or be taught the

material in a different way.

Another reason is boredom. If the material is too easy, they tune out

from sheer boredom. They don't have the self-regulation skills to

pretend to pay attention or keep themselves " up " . In this case,

learning to handle " boring " is a goal, advancing them to more

challenging material and giving them fidgets to help them keep awake

can sometimes help.

Finally, it may be that they lack the motivation to even care to learn

what is being taught. In this case, you may have to design a reward

system with enough interest to keep them going. In my older ds, by

middle school, it helped to just lay out the plan and say, " I know you

hate doing this but in order to pass the class, you have to finish

it... " and provide rewards as well.

In all cases, finding out why is important in how you would address it.

And also, the reasons can intermingle and you can have several of the

reasons happening within a school day - it might be boring in math

class, too easy in reading, and they could care less what people in

another country do or think in Social Studies class. But each time,

finding out the problem is the key.

Really, it is a social skill as well. I think back to school and how

often I was bored enough to sleep but I didn't. I " knew better " and I

came up with mind games to keep myself interested....like in reading, I

would zone out and then try to find the right page right before it

would be my turn to read. That little jolt of adrenaline helped. lol.

Roxanna

" The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do

nothing. " E. Burke

( ) Re: What can help to increase focus and

attention?

Date: Saturday, 14 November, 2009, 6:55

 

Do you really think any 3.5 year old can focus that much, let alone one

with attention problems? Anyway, I find with my 11 year old that

bribery helps. You can bribe him with some of his favorive activities

if he focuses on the activity he doesn't want to do. You can also try

to incorporate some of his favorite topics into the things he doesn't

want to do. Does he like fish? Try to get him to tell you the color, or

the number or the type of fish. Does he like cars? Have him count the

wheels, or write the name of the car down. Anything that includes his

favorite passion will help.

>

> What can be done to help your child increase focus and attention on

tasks? (i.e. focus/attention on non-preferred activities, school

tasks..) Any ideas you can share?

>

> My son is 3 1/2yo and can use some help in this area.

>

> Thanks,

>

>

[Guest guest]

All so true....and how about....not getting a good night's rest....my son has a hard time undwinding...many times I would go check and see him staring at the ceiling at 2 a.m.

Another thing is think of the early hours our children must get up. My son gets up at 5:55 because his bus comes any where between 6:02 and 6:15 a.m. but school doesn't start until 7:22 a.m. No wonder they fall asleep. Plus the air in school is not refreshing, they sit all day, no Hands on Projects. I could go on and on and on.

Jan

is the key.Really, it is a social skill as well. I think back to school and how often I was bored enough to sleep but I didn't. I "knew better" and I came up with mind games to keep myself interested.. ..like in reading, I would zone out and then try to find the right page right before it would be my turn to read. That little jolt of adrenaline helped. lol. Roxanna"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." E. Burke ( ) Re: What can help to increase focus and attention? @ groups.

comDate: Saturday, 14 November, 2009, 6:55 Do you really think any 3.5 year old can focus that much, let alone one with attention problems? Anyway, I find with my 11 year old that bribery helps. You can bribe him with some of his favorive activities if he focuses on the activity he doesn't want to do. You can also try to incorporate some of his favorite topics into the things he doesn't want to do. Does he like fish? Try to get him to tell you the color, or the number or the type of fish. Does he like cars? Have him count the wheels, or write the name of the car down. Anything that includes his favorite passion will help.>> What can be done to help your child increase focus and attention on tasks? (i.e. focus/attention on non-preferred activities, school tasks..) Any ideas

you can share?>> My son is 3 1/2yo and can use some help in this area.>> Thanks,> >

[Guest guest]

I used to hide a novel behind my textbook and read it to help

with my boredom!

From:

[mailto: ] On

Behalf Of Roxanna

Sent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 7:43 AM

Subject: Re: ( ) Re: What can help to increase focus and

attention?

Really, it is a social skill as well. I think back to school and how

often I was bored enough to sleep but I didn't. I " knew better " and I

came up with mind games to keep myself interested....like in reading, I

would zone out and then try to find the right page right before it

would be my turn to read. That little jolt of adrenaline helped. lol.

Roxanna

" The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do

nothing. " E. Burke

( ) Re: What can help to increase focus and

attention?

Date: Saturday, 14 November, 2009, 6:55

Do you really think any 3.5 year old can focus that much, let alone one

with attention problems? Anyway, I find with my 11 year old that

bribery helps. You can bribe him with some of his favorive activities

if he focuses on the activity he doesn't want to do. You can also try

to incorporate some of his favorite topics into the things he doesn't

want to do. Does he like fish? Try to get him to tell you the color, or

the number or the type of fish. Does he like cars? Have him count the

wheels, or write the name of the car down. Anything that includes his

favorite passion will help.

>

> What can be done to help your child increase focus and attention on

tasks? (i.e. focus/attention on non-preferred activities, school

tasks..) Any ideas you can share?

>

> My son is 3 1/2yo and can use some help in this area.

>

> Thanks,

>

>

[Guest guest]

i doodle...draw and I still do!!!!!

I am also practicing to write with my right hand...I am a lefty...

<

From: Elgamal <cindyelgamal@...> Sent: Thu, November 19, 2009 9:32:42 PMSubject: RE: ( ) Re: What can help to increase focus and attention?

I used to hide a novel behind my textbook and read it to help with my boredom!

From: [mailto:AspergersSu pport@group s.com] On Behalf Of RoxannaSent: Thursday, November 19, 2009 7:43 AM Subject: Re: ( ) Re: What can help to increase focus and attention?

Really, it is a social skill as well. I think back to school and how often I was bored enough to sleep but I didn't. I "knew better" and I came up with mind games to keep myself interested.. ..like in reading, I would zone out and then try to find the right page right before it would be my turn to read. That little jolt of adrenaline helped. lol. Roxanna"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." E. Burke ( ) Re: What can help to increase focus and attention? @ groups.

comDate: Saturday, 14 November, 2009, 6:55 Do you really think any 3.5 year old can focus that much, let alone one with attention problems? Anyway, I find with my 11 year old that bribery helps. You can bribe him with some of his favorive activities if he focuses on the activity he doesn't want to do. You can also try to incorporate some of his favorite topics into the things he doesn't want to do. Does he like fish? Try to get him to tell you the color, or the number or the type of fish. Does he like cars? Have him count the wheels, or write the name of the car down. Anything that includes his favorite passion will help.>> What can be done to help your child increase focus and attention on tasks? (i.e. focus/attention on non-preferred activities, school tasks..) Any ideas

you can share?>> My son is 3 1/2yo and can use some help in this area.>> Thanks,> >

[Guest guest]

We now have a letter home saying that they know Gregor can do the work, its just he is doing it when he is ready not when the teacher wants him to, on the up side his usual teacher is away for a couple of weeks and he has it in his head that he needs to speed though his work for the stand in, so he is doing everything she asks, he has even passed a reading test that he shouldn't sit for another 2 years, funny how the difference of a teachers approach can make such a difference, I wish the teachers could see this as clearly as I do.

Positive reinforcement instead of negative, we could all use a bit of that. lolFrom: maryahmaki <maryahmaki (DOT) com>Subject: ( ) Re:

What can help to increase focus and attention? Date: Saturday, 14 November, 2009, 6:55 Do you really think any 3.5 year old can focus that much, let alone one with attention problems? Anyway, I find with my 11 year old that bribery helps. You can bribe him with some of his favorive activities if he focuses on the activity he doesn't want to do. You can also try to incorporate some of his favorite topics into the things he doesn't want to do. Does he like fish? Try to get him to tell you the color, or the number or the type of fish. Does he like cars? Have him count the wheels, or write the name of the car down. Anything that includes his favorite passion will help.>> What can be done to help your child increase focus and attention on tasks? (i.e. focus/attention on non-preferred activities, school tasks..) Any ideas you can share?>> My son is 3 1/2yo and can use some help in this area.>> Thanks,> >

[Guest guest]

He he. Here, too.

"Are you there, God, It's me, Margaret" and "Flowers in the Attic". he he.

Ah......the good ole days.

RobinFrom: maryahmaki <maryahmaki (DOT) com>Subject: ( ) Re: What can help to increase focus and attention? Date: Saturday, 14 November, 2009, 6:55 Do you really think any 3.5 year old can focus that much, let alone one with attention problems? Anyway, I find with my 11 year old that bribery helps. You can bribe him with some of his favorive activities if he focuses on the activity he doesn't want to do. You can also try to incorporate some of his favorite topics into the things he doesn't want to do. Does he like fish? Try to get him to tell you the color, or the number or the type of fish. Does he like cars? Have him count the wheels, or write the name of the car down. Anything that includes his favorite passion will help.>> What can be done to help your child increase focus and attention on tasks? (i.e. focus/attention on non-preferred activities, school tasks..) Any ideas you can share?>> My son is 3 1/2yo and can use some help in this area.>> Thanks,> >

[Guest guest]

Wow, Jan. That's awesome......how's the "rightedness" going?

One of my kids is a Lefty and the other day that I heard a man tell a "joke" about it.

He said, "You know,,,,everyone is born right handed."...........Then he said, "But only the exceptional ones overcome it".

He he.

RobinFrom: maryahmaki <maryahmaki (DOT) com>Subject: ( ) Re: What can help to increase focus and attention? Date: Saturday, 14 November, 2009, 6:55 Do you really think any 3.5 year old can focus that much, let alone one with attention problems? Anyway, I find with my 11 year old that bribery helps. You can bribe him with some of his favorive activities if he focuses on the activity he doesn't want to do. You can also try to incorporate some of his favorite topics into the things he doesn't want to do. Does he like fish? Try to get him to tell you the color, or the number or the type of fish. Does he like cars? Have him count the wheels, or write the name of the car down. Anything that includes his favorite passion will help.>> What can be done to help your child increase focus and attention on tasks? (i.e. focus/attention on non-preferred activities, school tasks..) Any ideas you can share?>> My son is 3 1/2yo and can use some help in this area.>> Thanks,> >

[Guest guest]

I agree so much, Jan! My own two with HFA have always had big sleep

issues. So they are already tired on a regular basis. If you make my

ds sit still for very long, he falls asleep. I only wish it worked at

bedtime. lol. And the activity levels - they need to do more of that

with these kids. My own ds is hyperactive and he just needs the

physical exercise. Now he is eschooled at home here and he often gets

up and down during classes and moves around a lot. He still pays

attention when he is moving, though. So I let him move as long as he

is focusing on the work. This was becoming such a problem in school

for him - he would get up often during class, in the middle of a

teacher's lecture, and move around the room. Teachers never liked that

much. lol.

Roxanna

" The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do

nothing. " E. Burke

( ) Re: What can help to increase focus and

attention?

Date: Saturday, 14 November, 2009, 6:55

 

Do you really think any 3.5 year old can focus that much, let alone one

with attention problems? Anyway, I find with my 11 year old that

bribery helps. You can bribe him with some of his favorive activities

if he focuses on the activity he doesn't want to do. You can also try

to incorporate some of his favorite topics into the things he doesn't

want to do. Does he like fish? Try to get him to tell you the color, or

the number or the type of fish. Does he like cars? Have him count the

wheels, or write the name of the car down. Anything that includes his

favorite passion will help.

>

> What can be done to help your child increase focus and attention on

tasks? (i.e. focus/attention on non-preferred activities, school

tasks..) Any ideas you can share?

>

> My son is 3 1/2yo and can use some help in this area.

>

> Thanks,

>

>

[Guest guest]

Yes! I had a host of activities I would make up to keep myself going.

lol. The only time I could not be successful was during those

endlessly long science movies we had to watch. OMG! Those were SO

BORING!!! The narrators had those amazingly comatose sounding voices.

lol. Now I can watch discovery channel and it's interesting stuff. I

don't know why they try to make some of these subjects so dull. Or

maybe it was just the time I grew up in.

Roxanna

" The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do

nothing. " E. Burke

( ) Re: What can help to increase focus and

attention?

Date: Saturday, 14 November, 2009, 6:55

 

Do you really think any 3.5 year old can focus that much, let alone one

with attention problems? Anyway, I find with my 11 year old that

bribery helps. You can bribe him with some of his favorive activities

if he focuses on the activity he doesn't want to do. You can also try

to incorporate some of his favorite topics into the things he doesn't

want to do. Does he like fish? Try to get him to tell you the color, or

the number or the type of fish. Does he like cars? Have him count the

wheels, or write the name of the car down. Anything that includes his

favorite passion will help.

>

> What can be done to help your child increase focus and attention on

tasks? (i.e. focus/attention on non-preferred activities, school

tasks..) Any ideas you can share?

>

> My son is 3 1/2yo and can use some help in this area.

>

> Thanks,

>

>

[Guest guest]

Have you ever tried one of those big exercise balls for your son to sit on when he's working? Supposedly it's supposed to help kids focus because they can move around a little while still staying seated. My son also has some hyperactivity/nervous energy/something so I've always been interested in trying it out but I never have. When he was younger at school, he sat on this special cushion we found in an occupational therapy catalog and it helped to some degree.

"Over-optimism is waiting for you ship to come in when you haven't sent one out."

From: Roxanna <MadIdeas@...> Sent: Sat, November 21, 2009 10:20:20 AMSubject: Re: ( ) Re: What can help to increase focus and attention?

I agree so much, Jan! My own two with HFA have always had big sleep issues. So they are already tired on a regular basis. If you make my ds sit still for very long, he falls asleep. I only wish it worked at bedtime. lol. And the activity levels - they need to do more of that with these kids. My own ds is hyperactive and he just needs the physical exercise. Now he is eschooled at home here and he often gets up and down during classes and moves around a lot. He still pays attention when he is moving, though. So I let him move as long as he is focusing on the work. This was becoming such a problem in school for him - he would get up often during class, in the middle of a teacher's lecture, and move around the room. Teachers never liked that much. lol.Roxanna"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." E. Burke ( ) Re: What can help to increase focus andattention? Date: Saturday, 14 November, 2009, 6:55 Do you really think any 3.5 year old can focus that much, let alone onewith attention problems? Anyway, I find with my 11 year old thatbribery helps. You can bribe him with some of his favorive activitiesif he focuses on the activity he doesn't want to do. You can also tryto incorporate some of his favorite topics into the things he doesn'twant to do. Does he like fish? Try to get him to

tell you the color, orthe number or the type of fish. Does he like cars? Have him count thewheels, or write the name of the car down. Anything that includes hisfavorite passion will help.>> What can be done to help your child increase focus and attention ontasks? (i.e. focus/attention on non-preferred activities, schooltasks..) Any ideas you can share?>> My son is 3 1/2yo and can use some help in this area.>> Thanks,> >

[Guest guest]

Our social skills therapist says there are computer programs that are designed

to increase attention. She named names, but none of them sounded familiar to

me. They aren't the kind you buy for home use though, because they are very,

very expensive. I guess you're supposed to pay the therapist for your kid to

sit and play on the computer, LOL! Anyone ever heard of it or tried it? I

think she used the term " attention training " .

Medication has been amazing for my dd's attention, but she is older. It does

have side effects, of course.

>

>

> From: melody_autumn06 <melodyh2006@...>

> Subject: ( ) What can help to increase focus and attention?

>

> Date: Thursday, November 12, 2009, 1:12 PM

>

>

>  

>

>

>

> What can be done to help your child increase focus and attention on tasks?

(i.e. focus/attention on non-preferred activities, school tasks..) Any ideas you

can share?

>

> My son is 3 1/2yo and can use some help in this area.

>

> Thanks,

>

>

[Guest guest]

No we haven't. I could try it. When I did ABA with my little friend

who has more severe autism, the seat cushions were not really any

benefit to him. So I guess I just wrote them off. Now that I think

of it, I don't know why the OT at the school did not give him one to

try so many years back. But they were never very pro-active that way.

Roxanna

" The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do

nothing. " E. Burke

( ) Re: What can help to increase focus and

attention?

Date: Saturday, 14 November, 2009, 6:55

 

Do you really think any 3.5 year old can focus that much, let alone one

with attention problems? Anyway, I find with my 11 year old that

bribery helps. You can bribe him with some of his favorive activities

if he focuses on the activity he doesn't want to do. You can also try

to incorporate some of his favorite topics into the things he doesn't

want to do. Does he like fish? Try to get him to tell you the color, or

the number or the type of fish. Does he like cars? Have him count the

wheels, or write the name of the car down. Anything that includes his

favorite passion will help.

>

> What can be done to help your child increase focus and attention on

tasks? (i.e. focus/attention on non-preferred activities, school

tasks..) Any ideas you can share?

>

> My son is 3 1/2yo and can use some help in this area.

>

> Thanks,

>

>