Focusing | Life With ADHD Inattentive Kids

Back to School…and Reading Lists

September 6, 2011 By Brock 5 Comments

Lesley and Mike have gone back to school, and each of them has a reading list that is longer than they would like. Lesley had a summer list, so she got a head start. Mike had his list this summer, too. But...well. Let's not chalk everything up to being of the male persuasion... Both Lesley and Mike are having to read classic titles that make me think of Mark Twain’s definition: “A classic is something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read.” We've taken two effective approaches to slogging through these books. First on the list is reading aloud. One of Lesley's … [Read more...]

Filed Under: ADHD Strategies, Focusing, School and ADHD-Inattentive

Ten Classroom Strategies to Help Focus

November 17, 2010 By Brock 1 Comment

Everyone struggles to focus at some point. At the most recent back-to-school night, as I shuttled from 9th grade classroom to classroom, I was reminded of how much listening a student does in any given day. Because I've heard so many "back-to-school" speeches, I noticed that I was zoning out after the first few minutes, and suddenly I had renewed empathy for anyone diagnosed with ADHD. While no one helpful hint is a cure-all or expected to work every time, it helps to have a ready arsenal of creative ideas to initiate or regain a child's focus. Take a look and see what works for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Focusing Tagged With: fidgeting, focus, focusing, paying attention

How Do You Help Your Child Focus?

October 22, 2010 By Kayla 6 Comments

Teaching our kids to focus appropriately is one of the most valuable skills we'll share with them. ADHD - hyperactive and inattentive - is defined by the inability to sustain attention. But paying attention is a key piece to success in school, in relationships, at work - for life in general. What hints do you have to help your child focus? Share them in the comments below! Get 100 Ways to Help Your Child Pay Attention in Focus, Pocus! … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Focusing Tagged With: focus, focusing

Screen Out All Distraction – ADHD and Television

September 19, 2010 By Kayla Leave a Comment

First there was the television….then the computer….the Wii….the iPad and cell phones that do everything from cruise the internet to take pictures. Screens full of information can easily distract your ADHD-1 teen or tween from doing anything productive. I know that a kid who says he's working on a term paper on his laptop can have windows active with Facebook, Youtube videos and several virtual chatting conversations. Despite the excuse you may hear - "But Mom, I need to get on Facebook to get my assignment from Jessica!" - most screen time isn't that fruitful. How can you, the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Focusing Tagged With: paying attention, television

Five Focusing Hints – A Preview

October 18, 2009 By Kayla 5 Comments

Here are some of the helpful hints from Focus Pocus - 100 Ways to Help Your Child Pay Attention. 7. For multi-step tasks, have kids pair a task to a finger. If you want your son to pick up the bathroom, empty the trash, feed the dog, then sweep the front porch, have him ‘put’ one task on each of his fingers. Then have him count back to you – as he holds up the first finger, he says, “Pick up the bathroom.” On second finger, he should say, “Empty the trash.” This will help him remind himself, and ensure that he heard you in the first place. 13. Pick your fidgety child to be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Focusing Tagged With: attention, fidgeting, focus, focusing, inattention, paying attention

Focus Pocus – 100 Ways to Help Your Child Pay Attention

October 17, 2009 By Kayla Leave a Comment

Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder all have one thing in common - the inability to sustain and focus attention. But every child - ADHD or not - occasionally has problems staying on task and avoiding distraction. As parents and teachers - we try to conjure up ways to help them focus. As if they were magical spells, we say such things as, “Listen!” “Pay attention!” “Stop daydreaming!” “Think!” “FOCUS!” But the spells rarely work. To complicate things, once we find a trick that works, the magic wears off, and the clock strikes twelve. As a result, we … [Read more...]

Filed Under: ADHD-I Products, Focusing Tagged With: focus, inattention, memorizing, paying attention

Focus Pocus

September 17, 2009 By Kayla Leave a Comment

"Focus Pocus" was Ron's Facebook status the other day. I didn't ask him about it, but I can only imagine why he posted. Maybe in the throes of studying, Facebook beckoned. More likely, in the throes of Facebooking, his conscience called him to study. Anyhow, it's a great title. There are many little 'magical' strategies that help improve focus. None of them work all of the time - nothing works all of the time for our kids! All of them work some of the time, and chances are one of the following will work for you today: Limit the Viewing Area - Cut down on distractions by limiting what the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: ADHD-I Products, Focusing Tagged With: focusing

Modification for Classwork – Helping Kids Stay Focused

May 13, 2009 By Kayla Leave a Comment

"With math homework we modify doing odds or evens if there are more than 10 questions. Also we just implemented a "dot" system. When she is doing classwork, she has to check in after doing X amount of problems and if she stays on track and finishes it in class she gets Dots. This encourages her to keep focused and helps the teacher know when she is struggling and needs help. The Dots are then sent home for us to use on assignments. We then uses the dot's on homework. One dot for one question she doesn't have to do. For example, if she has ten math questions, but earns five Dots in class, she … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Focusing Tagged With: 504 plan for ADHD, accomodation, focus

Take Five!

February 23, 2009 By Kayla Leave a Comment

It's amazing what can be accomplished in five minutes. When your child is feeling particularly overwhelmed, check his to do list, and point out one task that will only take five minutes. Set the timer, and watch the relief as one item can be crossed off as finished. This hint also works great for parents. If you have a small task you've been dreading or putting off - like washing a window or writing a thank you note - set the timer for five minutes and get it over with! Visit our websites at http://www.adhd-inattentive.com. Help your kids to be more focused, organized, encouraged and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Focusing Tagged With: attention, life skills