attspan

C.A.P. - K.I.T.

"Short Attention Span"

A child's attention span affects several important aspects of his life--school achievement, discipline, relationships with other children. As with adults, the ability to focus and screen out irrelevant materials varies, depending upon the activity and other factors. It is an ability which is learned and increases as the child's mental age increases. By the age of four, most children have learned to pay attention when someone is speaking and to listen to someone read to them.
Some children have difficulty in this area. They move from one activity to another, interrupt themselves and others, lose things, and do not finish tasks.

Distractibility has several possible causes

a lag in development

weakness in ability to receive sights and sounds, understand their meaning, and respond

inability to separate background noises from a speaker's voice

difficulty with sequencing

psychological factors: anxiety, impatience, lack of confidence

Much can be done to help.

WAYS TO PREVENT DISTRACTIBILITY

Do not criticize. Emphasis on what is wrong or on how it should be done tends to cause a child to give up because he does not want to experience the criticism.
Select t tasks that are neither too easy nor too difficult for the child. The one who completes many tasks successfully over the years and has the feeling that "I can do it," pays attention and withstands distractions.

Praise focused attention and persistence: "Wow! You kept right on trying even when that wouldn't go right for you!"

Model how to avoid being distracted yourself. Continue doing your tasks, ignoring disruptions, and perhaps even commenting casually about how you are going to "finish writing this letter even though the news is coming on."

Avoid reinforcing the child's distractibility. When he is distracted, give NO attention (positive or negative).

WHAT TO DO ABOUT A SHORT ATTENTION SPAN

Provide structure.

Plan tasks carefully to insure success.

State, without anger, what behavior is expected.

Be specific. "Put all of the toys in the box," rather than "Clean up your room."

Make the tasks short so that the child experiences successful completion frequently.

Use a kitchen timer to signal the end of work or play periods.

Reduce distractions.

Work in uncluttered areas.

Put away materials when that part of the task is finished.

Cotton or ear plugs can help to block out distracting noises.

Model.

Let the child see how you pause and think before you act.

Think aloud so that the child learns how to reflect on what he has heard or read before drawing conclusions.

Teach organizational skills.

List tasks and check them off as they are completed.

Put homework to be done in one pile, finished work in another.

Help the child set his own small goals: "I will finish this whole row of problems in ten minutes."

Establish rules.

Hold the child accountable for his behavior even though he finds it difficult to comply.

Be firm and consistent. Rules should always have the same consequences. Rules should not vary from day to day.

Teach self-talk.

Encourage the child to tell himself what he will do:

"I want to finish this so I can play."
"I'll listen to I'll know how to do this."

Teach self-monitoring.

Have the child record how many problems he gets done in a specified time. He can make charts to keep track of his progress.

As your child becomes better able to cope, gradually expose him to more normal conditions - - less effective ear plugs, longer work periods.

For continuing, severe problems in this area, you may need to consult your child's pediatrician and/or other professionals. Parenting a highly distractible child is no easy task!