Ways to Improve Concentration for Kids with ADHD
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Getting kids with ADHD to concentrate can be both challenging for parents and teachers. Below you will find suggested strategies you can do as a parent to help improve your child's concentration.
- Provide structure: have clear, simple rules and routines.
- Be organized: have a homework spot, pack your child's backpack at night and have it ready to go, pick out your child's clothes before going to bed.
- During homework allow your child short breaks and a snack. Break larger projects into smaller ones so the assignment is doable.
- Be persistent: it may require several trials before you see progress.
- Add music to the environment: you can find numerous choices of concentration music on Youtube.
- Allow your child to stand at a tall table for homework, or give them a bouncy ball to sit on.
- Let him/her get physical: hop or skip to the letters of spelling words. A stationary bike would work too. Why not let them ride the bike while memorizing vocabulary words :)
- Chant math facts.
- Use music to enhance memory: allow your child to sing their spelling words or beat the syllables using drum sticks.
- Clap or march to the spelling of each word.
- Use colored pencils to write with.
- Puzzles boost concentration: don't forget word games and logic puzzles too.
- Give your child a stress ball to squeeze or a fidget to spin as they work.
- Give them gum or a candy necklace to chew on.
- Allow them to doodle as you read a story to them...great for memory.
- Lavender is a relaxing scent: burn lavender candles, or make lavender rice and place it in the homework area.
Most importantly, stay calm and parent on!