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Parenting

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ANY ideas for helping my 6yr old DS concentrate and listen!

4 replies

Chooster · 08/03/2011 22:11

DS1 is 6 and is in second year of primary school. He's a wonderful, sweet natured, kind boy and a fabulous big brother to his 2 younger brothers... But he just doesn't listen!!!! Its not a naughty thing as such, its not like he absorbs what he's being told and just decides to ignore us out of spite, he's just too too laid back and has a "can't be bothered" attitude. We've had his hearing tested and thats fine, but he did get his tonsils and adenoids taken out just over a year ago due to obstructive sleep apneoa. I worry this has affected his abiity to concentrate, as he was always so tired from poor sleep until his op.

Homework is also a battle ground, lack of interest and he just does silly things, deliberately mis-pronouncing words that he's already said correctly a page earlier etc - again its a can't be bothered attitude.

He can concentrate on things he enjoys, like playing with his cars etc, the problem comes when its something he's not too keen on.

How can I help him, especially with homework - I dont want this to be a constant battle - after all we've got years of this ahead... Any ideas???????

OP posts:
Othersideofthechannel · 09/03/2011 07:31

With the homework, at that age DS preferred to mess around, constantly sharpening pencils, distracted by anything. I found myself wishing I had a room with nothing but a table and chair and us in, like a police interrogation cell!

What worked best for us was decide together what was plenty of time to complete that homework, set the kitchen timer and if it wasn't done within that time, tough. He had to face the consequences at school or do it without me.

Things are much better now, he is 8. Sometime when he was 7 he realised that the faffing around was just a waste of time and it was better to get it done quickly so he had more time for the stuff he wanted to do. Also it helps that the homework has got more interesting.

HTH

Chooster · 09/03/2011 17:29

Yes that does help... I'm sure its just an age thing... the books they read for homework are ones they've done already in school so I think they're aren't that exiciting second or maybe even 3rd time round. I'll try the timer things as well as we can be faffing around for half an hour with something that should only take about 10 mins.. Not easy with a 3yr old and 3 month old who also need my attention.

OP posts:
Othersideofthechannel · 09/03/2011 17:50

That's why I introduced the timer. If the homework took any longer, it messed up meal and bed times for younger DD.

Also when DS is supposed to reread things, I ask him whether he thinks he needs to. If he says he doesn't, I'll ask a couple of questions to check his comprehension and then we read something different. There's no point him rereading stuff if it is putting him off reading. Far better to read something he is interested in!

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GooseyLoosey · 09/03/2011 17:52

I line up something fun to do after homework. Explain how lond that gives the dcs to do their homework and if it takes any longer, I will (a) write it in their homewoek diary (as teacher is clearly scarier than me) and (b) we won't have time to do fun thing. Homework at this age should just not take that long.

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