How do I get a 5 yr old to sit and take a lesson?

Question

I would like to establish a routine without tying her to a chair or bribing her to learn.

Answer 1

The lesson needs to be presented in an age appropriate format. Most kids this age respond better to a hands-on type of lesson. They need something concrete to see and manipulate to help them focus on the lesson and process the information presented. If you email me with info about the material you'd like for her to learn, I can give you some ideas to make it a hands on type of lesson.

Answer 2

As a preschool teacher, my answer is sometimes, just don't ( let her sit down to study a lesson.) Learning is not always thru drills or sit-down exercises. Remember when you were a 5 yr.old? What did you like doing best? what did you enjoy mostly doing? yes, PLAYING is the answer. That's the very tool you need to get your child understand you. Make every play an opportunity to learn things he/she needs. Be creative and resourceful.
Here are a few activities which are fun yet will teach your kid what he/she needs:
1. If you are teaching name-writing, don't just tell the kid to sit and write his name. Instead, role play that you are boarding an airplane and he needs to log in his name on a ticket (paper) so he can have a pass and ride.
2. Teach colors, patterns and sizes by asking his help in sorting laundered clothes or socks.
3. When you visit places, you could prepare a bag for him with his writing and coloring tools. Ask him to get brochures and take pictures of interesting things, write or draw what he likes of that place and maybe at home, put them together to make a mini-journal or book.
4. When he feels like doing sit-down activities, praise him and offer a simple reward (sticker or a small toy) and just allow him to write or color without much pressure. Also prepare some activities-in between which will extend his interest in what you are teaching ( a card trick or magic trick maybe).
5. read together.

Answer 3

If your child used to watch TV - you could not do anything. To concentrate on your lessons, child has to be stimulated up to the level of DISNEY movies - bright colors, stage changes every 1-2 second...

First, take away TV. Completely. No video games, no game boy... Some physical activity every day. Good sleep....

Second - find any intellectual hands-on game that child would become interested in - checkers would work, Lego, ...
Play with him on regular basis. It will extend his focus

When your child can concentrate on activity that has low level of excitement, you are ready to start teaching him...
Then use the advices that others gave to you -
manipulative and short lessons would help

Good Luck
By the way, if you will turn off TV, you will have to do it for all the family. Otherwise, child will feel unfair.
We did it... And it works
See also articles and books of Dr. Armstrong

Answer 4

little late. this is something that should have been started at 8-10 mths.
Now your gonna have to make it intersting enough to keep her attention. which with a 5 yr old isn't very long. Thats why they usually like comercial's.
look for chances, like just before bed time or nap time. too start. then work in other times when opp. knocks. go into details when they ask questions. keep it short but as long as possible. Also things they show interest in. use visuals
I never really had this problem. but use too read to our kids daily 2-3 times if possible. before they could walk. they developed a likeing for it and would demand some sort of reading when they where tired out. which helped them take willing nap's. even if not read too by age 4

Answer 5

Remember, that a routine is done by repetition. Give your daughter a choice and learn to listen to her interest and go forward with that. Children are mostly tactile learners so you might either have to create or purchase learning materials to be used with her. Be consistent and you'll be amazed at just how quickly she will attend to your teachings. Good luck!!!

Answer 6

Duct tape comes to mind. Aside from that- why do lessons have to be taught sitting down? Why cant lessons be fun and taught with a practical approach in every day life?

Answer 7

i dont really know, without proper training but i would say its a balance between enjoyment and training/learning, Keep the lesson active, enjoyable, get their attention and keep moving forwards without getting stuck in a Mood/ blame good/bad thingo. Keep it happy, use rewards and use visualisation for them to imagine bad for wrong and good for right. Good luck.

Answer 8

you have to make it fun for her. try making a song out of what you want to teach her. or a dance. or give her some sort of reward if she sits through a lesson

Answer 9

Keep the lesson short and fun.