Attention - Concentration

Instead of giving your child all the information at once, give it in bullet points so that the important information is clear and  helps them to filter the bits they need to know.  For example, running through the whole school morning routine in one is likely to be too much to remember.

Drip feed information because attention and memory are closely related.  Break it down into smaller chunks, one thing at a time, "get dressed", then when that's done, "well done, now pack your bag".

This sounds like a silly thing to say, but your child is more likely to listen when their name is used as they realise the conversation is directed at them.

When you give your child information, give the instruction, repeat the instruction and then check they have understood. For example, by asking them to repeat it back to you, "David, I want you to go in to your bedroom and get dressed for school, then clean your teeth. Get dressed for school and then clean your teeth. David, what did I ask you to do first? And then?"

This sound obvious, but it's another way to help your child to remember the instruction.  You can write down bullet points or use visual sequences that order, for example, a child's morning routine so they can be prompted to check back with it. 

Stick them in areas where tasks need to take place.  Place them where they can't be missed. They will act as prompts for your child and help to remind them what tasks they are supposed to be doing e.g. bathroom routines or bedroom tidying. 

You can try changing the enviroment where a child usually undertakes tasks that require concentration, for example, doing their homework.  
 
If possible have a dedicated space in the house, away from distractions.  Think about the space, are they looking out of a window, are there people coming and going in the room? Are there toys that seem appealing to play with? These will all distract and make concentration difficult.   

Put a sign on the door saying "Quiet - genius at work".  Make sure all TV's and music is switched off and put away phones. There's so much noise around us that we can stop noticing washing machines, etc.  It might be useful to sit quietly in your home sometime and listen to the noises.  That way you can figure out what can be turned down or switched off to reduce noise. Have a plan for homework time that avoids distractions; don't have anyone round and ask your other children to play outside or play in a different room until the homework is done.  Small changes like these, might make the environment easier for your child to concentrate.

Children can become overwhelmed with everything they have to do. Write down all they have to do and break it into chunks for them.  You might use a visual like a set of steps, the goal is to get to the top,  but there are steps that have to be done to get there.  For example, the goal might be maths homework; break this down in to groups of tasks or work, each group is one step. Vary the number and timing of these chunks of work; one day it might be a page that needs to be completed per step, another day it might be more or less.  
 
Checkpoints are added to let a child see how they are doing and for them to see the progress they are making.  You might want to think about rewards; your child can select these and make a list prior to starting work and then can choose which they would like as a reward if they get through the task.  For example; "David, there is one page of maths work to do, what would you like your reward to be if you manage to complete this?". Keep rewards small; some screen time or time outside, playing a game together or doing an activity together, a small treat.

Avoid negative feedback, try always to give positive and encouraging feedback as this helps to keep them motivated.  

When concentration and attention is difficult, children can engage in negative thoughts about themselves, mainly that they can't do something or feel silly or useless.  Teach them about negative thoughts and help them to replace them with friendly thoughts.  "I can do this", "when I finish this I am going to play on the trampoline for 15 minutes", "my teacher told me I was good at this". 

This gives a child an opportunity to go off task for a while and then come back.   Remember not to let this become a distraction! It might be helpful to set a timer as a visual reminder of when it is time to come back.  A rest can help a child refocus.  If your child seems restless of fidgety, it might be helpful to encourage them to do something physical during their break.

Have you looked at the relevant information and advice on our webpage?

Have you tried the self-help options above consistently without any significant change or improvement?

Have you accessed support from the suggested apps, websites and organisations listed on our resources page?

Have you discussed your concerns and had support from school, school nurse, GP, parenting support group?

If you have, it might be time to speak to someone about a possible referral to CAMHS.