Tips for Working with a Child Who Is Very Focused
Friends, Family and Home
- Provide her with private space to work on her activities.
- Encourage him to be flexible and willing to change activities when friends want new ones.
- Warn her ahead of time before going on a family outing or asking her to join a family activity.
- Provide pictures and toys in his crib for him to enjoy.
Learning, Childcare and School
- Ask the teacher to remind her about toileting and water breaks.
- Let teachers know that he often needs some notice to be able to stop his activity and move on.
- Read books with more complex stories to her, and ask her questions about the story and pictures.
Activities and Television
- Encourage him in a variety of activities, not just one.
- She may not hear when you call her from TV or activities, so physically touch her to get her attention.
- Provide him with puzzles and activities with more pieces and greater difficulty.
Guidance and Discipline
- If she does not respond to you, go over and touch or face her to get her attention.
- Talk with him about different ways to do things.
- Give her time to think about things before expecting answers.
- Allow extra time for babies and toddlers to eat and experiment with spoons and textures.
Tips for Working with a Child Who Is Easily Distracted
Friends, Family and Home
- Ask that family members not label him as having attention problems.
- Make sure that family members are patient with her.
- Keep mealtime and other family routines short.
- Change a baby’s position and location often.
Learning, Childcare and School
- Have him complete a small part of a project, do something else, and then come back to finish.
- Reward her with breaks or other treats when she finishes each part.
- Provide him with shorter books and books with bright illustrations.
- Remind childcare providers that some babies may need extra time and breaks to finish a bottle.
Activities and Television
- Play games and encourage her in activities away from TV and in a quieter room to lessen distractions.
- Provide him with games and activities that build on his favorite way of doing things, such as using sounds, movement, or looking at things.
- Limit television, as that could decrease her ability to pay attention to other things.
Guidance and Discipline
- Compliment what he does rather than complaining about what he doesn’t do.
- Give her instructions one step at a time, such as “Put the blocks in this box,” rather than “Clean your room.”
- Provide alternatives (quiet books and small toys) to keep him busy during situations where he will have to sit for long periods, such as religious services or appointments.