| Parenting Request from Hina, a Valued Newsletter | | | | While you're teaching, smile, listen, and encourage. If |
| Subscriber: | | | | you lose your temper, you'll have trouble. |
| Hina is both a mother and a teacher whose 5-year-old | | | | Second Parenting Tip for Increasing Concentration - |
| son exhibits a lack of concentration. She says, "When | | | | Praise:Pat, smile, and praise your child for listening, |
| I'm teaching him he starts telling me all sorts of stories | | | | working, and thinking well. Consider saying: |
| just to avoid writing or reading. Please address this | | | | I know you listened to the story because your |
| problem." | | | | answers were so good. |
| Concentration Quote: "He has the attention span of a | | | | I saw you do a careful job on your numbers. You're a |
| lightning bolt." - Robert Redford | | | | good worker. |
| If this describes your child, I can imagine your | | | | Your drawing shows you have a great imagination. Tell |
| frustration. Years ago, before I became a child and | | | | me more about your picture. |
| family counselor, I taught the elementary grades. I | | | | Your child will glow under your praise and will work |
| noted that my third graders could read and work | | | | even harder. The side effect is better concentration. |
| somewhat on their own. My second graders read less | | | | Third Parenting Tip for Increasing Concentration - |
| well and had less focus power. My first graders were | | | | Encourage Self-Discipline:Help your child work for his |
| just learning to read and could concentrate even less. | | | | rewards. This promotes his self-discipline. It increases |
| My kindergarteners were wiggle worms.The younger | | | | his attention span too. Use the 'First This Then That |
| the children the more frequently I needed to change | | | | Formula:" |
| their activities and put in rest exercises. They had the | | | | First finish your paper and then you can color. |
| attention span of a lightning bolt. | | | | First read your book and then you can build with your |
| First Parenting Tip for Increasing Concentration - | | | | blocks. |
| Change Activities: | | | | First practice printing your letters and then you can |
| Children need stimulating material, frequent activity | | | | jump rope. |
| changes, and your enthusiasm. Check out the material | | | | Thank you, Hina, for sharing your child's attention span |
| you're teaching your child. Ask yourself, 'Is this | | | | concern. I hope these tips help you and other parents |
| stimulating?' They say that a child's age matches his | | | | too. |
| concentration span in minutes. That means a | | | | Concentration Summary: |
| 5-year-old child might need a change from sounding | | | | When children are young their attention spans are like |
| out letters and words to singing a song, to clapping a | | | | lightning bolts. Give your child stimulating material, |
| jingle, or a stretching activity every 5 minutes. Can you | | | | frequent activity changes, and your enthusiasm. Use |
| imagine how many learning activities a teacher | | | | specific praise to encourage your child to learn. |
| presents in one day? No wonder teachers take naps | | | | Promote your child's self-discipline by using the 'First |
| as soon as they get home. I know I did. | | | | This Then That Formula.' If you do, you'll be turning his |
| To be enthusiastic, keep in mind, that your child isn't | | | | lightning bolt into a steady current of concentration. |
| bored or wiggling on purpose. He is just acting his age. | | | | You'll be building character too. |