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Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

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Original poster

Child cannot focus on school work

77 replies

herringboneparquet · 05/09/2023 14:40

DS who is 14 just cannot get started on any school work task. It is absolutely infuriating.

He will sit there for ages, staring at a blank page or out the window, looking up stuff on his ipad (can't take it away as he needs it for the work), getting something to eat or drink, playing with the cat etc.

I've tried being kind and asking if he needs help.

I've tried being really harsh and raising my voice and imposing punishments.

I've tried rewards.

Nothing helps.

For context, he is diagnosed ASD and is currently not attending the school building due to overwhelm and anxiety. This is work he has been sent home. He has no issue with the level of work, it's at his level. He cannot explain what it is that is stopping him. Once he gets started he can get a bit done but can't work for long.

He has been assessed for ADHD and they did not give a diagnosis.

Has anyone come across this before and do you have any tips on what I can do to help?

OP posts:

Original poster

herringboneparquet · 06/09/2023 15:20

Phineyj · 05/09/2023 18:55

Perhaps he has a PDA profile? (Google PANDA strategies). My DD does and homework is a nightmare!

Some ideas: take it out of the house to a library or cafe (Costa at a big supermarket is good as they don't generally care how many drinks you buy...) If the home aspect is the issue, it breaks that association.

Online learning? There's KingsInterhigh, but I don't know if any online providers do the Scottish syllabus (if that matters).

Is there anyone who could work with him other than you? DD was much better at doing work with a nanny we briefly employed. She won't do a thing with me because I'm associated with "home".

In the meantime will he play board games with you, cook recipes, read instructions?

And yes he will play board games, cook/bake etc and is quite keen to do so. But it just seems like there aren't enough hours in the day. I have other children to drop and collect from school, plus various CAMHS, medical and counselling appointments to attend. But I will try to engage him in some more "fun" stuff. Thank you.

OP posts:

Phineyj · 06/09/2023 17:52

Maybe he could work up to cooking tea? Watch step by step YouTube videos?

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