ATTENTION PROBLEMS
If your child’s teacher has concerns about learning or behavior issues do not take it as an affront to your parenting. Experienced teachers know that even excellent parents have children that may struggle with learning and behavior. Also, just because the teacher mentions the term attention problem does NOT mean that your child has ADHD. There are a number of other reasons why he or she may be having difficulty staying on task.
Children may be experiencing attention problems because they are anxious or nervous about something. If fidgety, inattentive behavior is not normal for them, then you may want to investigate specific causes why they may be having trouble.
Changes or upheavals in a child’s world often bring about behavior changes. Never assume, however, that a family difficulty will necessarily affect your child. It may not be a big deal to them until YOU make it a big deal.
Learning difficulties can also be a cause for attention problems. It is normal for children (and adults, too) to avoid things they are not good at. When school work is hard for them they may try to engage in something that is easier or more fun. In this case, the teacher can help by noticing if the behavior occurs only during particular instructional times.
Another reason that children may have attention problems is that they have simply never been taught how to sit and pay attention for an extended length of time. It is wrong to assume that children automatically know how to be still and listen. This may be especially difficult when they are required to perform tasks they don’t particularly enjoy. Generally, these children will become agitated when redirected back to the task at hand.
Take time to practice this skill with them. A child that has never had to sit in time-out, attend a lengthy presentation like church, work on a multi-step project that results in a finished product, or even sit still at dinner, will have difficulty with attention in school.
Of course, it could be that your child is exhibiting symptoms of ADHD. Young children with ADHD commonly do not become agitated when redirected. Generally, they comply willingly, but are off-task again in just a matter of minutes or even seconds. This is not particularly true of older children who may become defiant simply because they are weary of being told to do something that is very difficult for them…sit still, be quiet, and listen. These skills that are easy for most people are almost impossible for a child with ADHD.
Many times parents are not aware that their child may have difficulty staying focused on a task or paying attention for a period of time until they enter school. It is important to realize that your child’s teacher is comparing your child to all the other children they have ever taught. He or she is an expert in children’s behavior. If you want to help your child succeed in school, it is important to work closely with the professionals that work with him or her on a daily basis.
©2010 raise a kid R.I.G.H.T.
Children may be experiencing attention problems because they are anxious or nervous about something. If fidgety, inattentive behavior is not normal for them, then you may want to investigate specific causes why they may be having trouble.
Changes or upheavals in a child’s world often bring about behavior changes. Never assume, however, that a family difficulty will necessarily affect your child. It may not be a big deal to them until YOU make it a big deal.
Learning difficulties can also be a cause for attention problems. It is normal for children (and adults, too) to avoid things they are not good at. When school work is hard for them they may try to engage in something that is easier or more fun. In this case, the teacher can help by noticing if the behavior occurs only during particular instructional times.
Another reason that children may have attention problems is that they have simply never been taught how to sit and pay attention for an extended length of time. It is wrong to assume that children automatically know how to be still and listen. This may be especially difficult when they are required to perform tasks they don’t particularly enjoy. Generally, these children will become agitated when redirected back to the task at hand.
Take time to practice this skill with them. A child that has never had to sit in time-out, attend a lengthy presentation like church, work on a multi-step project that results in a finished product, or even sit still at dinner, will have difficulty with attention in school.
Of course, it could be that your child is exhibiting symptoms of ADHD. Young children with ADHD commonly do not become agitated when redirected. Generally, they comply willingly, but are off-task again in just a matter of minutes or even seconds. This is not particularly true of older children who may become defiant simply because they are weary of being told to do something that is very difficult for them…sit still, be quiet, and listen. These skills that are easy for most people are almost impossible for a child with ADHD.
Many times parents are not aware that their child may have difficulty staying focused on a task or paying attention for a period of time until they enter school. It is important to realize that your child’s teacher is comparing your child to all the other children they have ever taught. He or she is an expert in children’s behavior. If you want to help your child succeed in school, it is important to work closely with the professionals that work with him or her on a daily basis.
©2010 raise a kid R.I.G.H.T.