You are here: Home / Archives for fidgeting

Walk, Run or Jump to Your Nearest Study Break

Posted by Brock
physical activity and adhd

To an ADHD-inattentive child, homework seems endless. It starts after school, stops for a dinner break and can sometimes go until bedtime. In hindsight, it's fairly easy to say the whole time wasn't productive, but at the time, the whole family can be caught up in the "crisis du jour." Maybe it's like this at your house. You hear "AHHHHH. One English lit test, a history essay and 35 math problems." That's your first clue that it's going to be a long night. "Okay, ask me these questions. I think I'm ready…." would be Lesley's usual request, but often we both realized after the first … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Focusing Tagged With: ,

Ten Classroom Strategies to Help Focus

Posted by Brock
504 plan

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: , , ,

Five Focusing Hints – A Preview

Posted by Kayla
help your child pay attention

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: , , , , ,

Paying Attention is a Balancing Act

Posted by Kayla
balance ball chair for adhd

In their quest to pay attention, ADHD kids are often fidgety. They have all those annoying habits, like tapping their pencil, chewing on their pigtails, shaking their leg, picking at scabs, or doodling. One of our boys' teachers combatted his fidgets by simply letting him stand up. Other teachers have found the benefit of letting kids sit on a cushion, or even on one of those ball chairs. I read an article this morning in the Star Tribune about a middle school classroom that is completely outfitted with these bouncy chairs. I know that they are useful for schools (and offices), but have … [Read more...]

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