My third grader has issues staying focused!?

Question

He's smart and, when he pays attetion, he does fine, but he has a tendencey to drift into La-La land. How do I help him work on his focus? Any advice?

I don't believe he has ADHD or ADD and I'm not going to medicate him. I'm sure he's a normal 9 year old. I'm just looking for advice from other parents who have had to deal with this.

Answer 1

Can he pay attention to video games for hours on end? If so, it means he just isn't interested in certain things at school so he starts to drift. I applaud you for not automatically going to the medication solution.

I don't think it's necessarily a bad problem if he drifts sometimes, as long as he gets homework done (and you can help with that) and is in school when he should be. Out of my three sons (now grown), I had one who drifted and it turned out he was the most creative and is a really great artist.

Find things that stimulate his interest--arts, hobbies, sports, games--and get him to focus on those for appropriate periods of time. He'll be fine (and so will you).

Answer 2

In a cognitive psychology class it took some years ago, the professor explained that young children can only concentrate on one thing at a time. An eighteen year old can study, listen to the radio, carry on a telephone conversation and eat popcorn all at the same time. An eight year old can only do one of those things well. The best way you can help him is to simplify his environment. Don't expect him to study when the television is on or adults are talking within his hearing. When you want him to focus on a task, try sitting down quietly and reading a book while he is concentrating.

Also, remember that children have a short attention span. Use a timer and give him a break at least once every half hour. Some experts also believe diet is a factor. High protein meals and snacks and a very limited amount of cereals, grains and sweets, will keep his blood sugar levels more even and help him focus. Treats are for after homework!

Good luck...and remember that lack of attention is quite normal for an eight year old. If you think his behavior is more serious than average, a visit to his pediatrician might be in order. But, don't make a big issue of this. If he hears you discuss his lack of focus, he will assume that it is just the way he is and won't make the adjustments children normally do as they age.

Answer 3

My son went through the same phase - it's normal for some boys to do this. His teacher even told us that he was ADHD, but refused to believe them or medicate him. He is now 11 and doing well in school - it just takes a very firm hand and the willingness on your part to help him practice focusing at home. We encouraged a little distraction while he studied (radio or TV on in another room) until he could handle it and focus. Don't give up - he'll be fine as soon as he matures a little.

God bless!

Answer 4

I have been going through this with my son since 1st grade (he is now in 5th) He does very well on tests but is easily distracted and sometimes does not pay attention in class. He is not hyperactive just has concentration issues. It is very frustrating and we have read many books and have talked to several people. We have talked to the Dr. who basically told us our only option would be to medicate him or deal with it. We firmly beleive that too many people are medicating thier children because they don't want to deal with this. We did research and some children have actually had heart problems and died from medication we are not willing to take this chance. So we have been doing the best we can to help him through homework and working with the teachers with strategies to keep him focused. It is a hard road but worth it. Good luck it takes a lot of patience to deal with children that have ADD.

Answer 5

I wholly believe Mama Bear-- scan folks BEFORE they have got children and notice in the event that they will have to also be allowed to! By the time you are round nine or 10 years historic, you DEFINATELY recognize the change among proper and unsuitable! I knew the change while I was once 5! And I knew what loss of life was once then as good-- those children haven't any excuse. They will have to be thrown in juvenile detention for decades...they recognize that they had been going to harm and potentially kill her, they deliberate it and this wasn't spontaneous. This wasn't precipitated via their ADD or via the media...that is dangerous parenting at its worst and the father and mother will have to even be charged and their approach of parenting puzzled...These children knew *precisely* what they had been doing, deliberate it, and could have long gone by way of with it if the hadn't been stopped. If they had been 3 years older, of their young adults, then they could have already been thrown into juvenile detention. But on the grounds that they are the smallest bit more youthful-- however certainly deliberate this widely and deliberate to harm/kill their instructor and knew simply what they had been doing-- each person is performing love it's no longer their fault. I believe dangerous for the instructor and the leisure in their classmates! How surprising whatever like that ought to be.

Answer 6

I saw your question and felt a huge need to respond, simply because I am having the exact same issue with my 3rd grade daughter! Same situation - she is very mature and smart for her age and does fine acedemically, but she tends to "zone out" when the teacher gives instructions for something or if the subject isn't interesting to her.

I wish I had some answers to help you...but I'm still trying to figure out what they are! I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone in the situation and that I totally understand what you're going through.

Maybe we should have a talk with our kids' school social workers or counsilors and see what they have to say. Good luck! :-)

P.S. Don't listen to the people who are trying to tell you he has ADD. I strongly believe this is normal at this age and it's a phase that will pass.

Answer 7

I really don't have an answer for you, but I have the same problem as you. My son is in the 2nd grade and has a hard time staying focused. He was borderline ADD last year, but I don't want to put him on meds. He is more settled this year, but still has a hard time staying focused. Every little sound in his classroom gets his attention and then he stays off track. He knows all his work if you ask him, it is just staying focused. Hopefully, this will wear off in time!

Answer 8

The teacher needs to develop a silent communication with him to bring him back into focus. For example, she needs to walk by his desk and tap it with her finger twice as a signal to bring him back to task. Or when she is talking she needs to make eye contact with him and tap her mouth or ear to remind him to listen. He should have his desk AWAY from distractions such as the pencil sharpener, or an outside widow. Up front near the teacher is best. He is old enough to understand that the signals that the teacher gives him is to help him and that the signals are special just for him without her having to call attention to his inattention to the others.

And when you are talking to him, make sure he is looking at your face when you are talking to him. That way, you'll know that he isn't distracted when you are giving him directions. When he is doing homework, make sure the room doesn't have a TV nearby. Help him find a place to work where there isn't so many distracting sounds, and give him a short break every 20 minutes.

Good luck!

Answer 9

I've never met a third grader who doesn't occasionally drift off to la-la land. Be wary of doctors who automatically say Ridaline! That stuff is way over prescribed.

Find activities he is interested in and always have challenging activites for him to pursue

Answer 10

I had this problem when I was a little kid, you might want to have some music in the background(I know it sounds wierd, but it takes the monologing of a teacher away) Or do one on one lessons after school. You could let him have a little snack, or tell him to color, cause when hes doing that stuff, he wont be able to drift away, because that part of his mind is occupied, and he will catch on to your voice.