Regardless of the source of a child’s attention challenges, there are many things
that you can do to help. Some of these are ideas for you to use at home, and
some are ways in which to advocate for your child in the school setting. This is
by no means an exhaustive list, but rather some ideas to help you get started:
that you can do to help. Some of these are ideas for you to use at home, and
some are ways in which to advocate for your child in the school setting. This is
by no means an exhaustive list, but rather some ideas to help you get started:
Be transparent by discussing (in age-appropriate ways, of course) with your child how attention works, and identifying their particular profile of strengths and challenges. By normalizing your child’s experience, you will help to reduce self-esteem and anxiety issues related to their challenges.
Provide frequent movement breaks (at school and at home). Many people with attention issues benefit from moving locations or positions frequently, creating periodic “mental energy bursts.” In general, exercise has been shown to benefit attention: “Exercise turns on the attention system, the so-called executive functions — sequencing, working memory, prioritizing, inhibiting, and sustaining attention,” says John Ratey, M.D., an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. “On a practical level, it causes kids to be less impulsive, which makes them more primed to learn.”
While the above ideas will help to accommodate for your child’s difficulties, you might be interested in what can be done to actually strengthen a child’s abilities to pay attention. If so, you can educate yourself about the brain-based technologies and protocols that are now available to strengthen your child’s neurological and cognitive skills profile. Using the concept of neuroplasticity (the ability of the brain to change and grow from appropriate, targeted stimulation), there are now a number of games and activities (both electronic and table-top) in addition to proven, brain-based technologies that will support your child’s success—in home and at school.
Provide frequent movement breaks (at school and at home). Many people with attention issues benefit from moving locations or positions frequently, creating periodic “mental energy bursts.” In general, exercise has been shown to benefit attention: “Exercise turns on the attention system, the so-called executive functions — sequencing, working memory, prioritizing, inhibiting, and sustaining attention,” says John Ratey, M.D., an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. “On a practical level, it causes kids to be less impulsive, which makes them more primed to learn.”
While the above ideas will help to accommodate for your child’s difficulties, you might be interested in what can be done to actually strengthen a child’s abilities to pay attention. If so, you can educate yourself about the brain-based technologies and protocols that are now available to strengthen your child’s neurological and cognitive skills profile. Using the concept of neuroplasticity (the ability of the brain to change and grow from appropriate, targeted stimulation), there are now a number of games and activities (both electronic and table-top) in addition to proven, brain-based technologies that will support your child’s success—in home and at school.
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