Any tips for DCs slow to start their work or those that lose focus?

[Cortina]

DS does this sometimes. He can concentrate for long periods of time (more than an hour in some cases) to read or write at home but at school sometimes loses focus.

He's in a lively group at school and wondered if there is anything I can do to encourage him to start work more quickly, stay on track and focus come September?

Is he 9? Sounds exactly like my DD! she is according to her teacher one of the best writers in her year but gets distracted and often doesn't write enough, or gets off task in numeracy lessons. I haven't any advice but empathise with you and will be watching closely for any advice!

How old is he?

He's just turned 6 and in Y1 going into Y2.

Meditation?

Sit in quiet room together and stare at a lighted candle or something else nice to focus on together for 2 mins, then 5, then 10.

I keep meaning to do more of this as I think it really helps me and def was good for ds2 who is 4 and rubbish at concentration like most 4yr olds!

Sorry that wasn't a direct answer to your Q. What I meant to say was emptying your mind regularly can really help with focussing, relaxing and concentration.

I'm not a hippy by the way.

Kids of 6 can't concentrate for long (especially not on something they don't choose to concentrate on).

There is also a lot going on at school which can provide a huge distraction.

So it will likely come in time? Lots of laughing and distraction at his table last year which wasn't ideal (although he had fun)! :)

Just don't want it to be a 'theme' this year if possible.

Thanks for suggestions.

Our EP said that children can usually concentrate for actual age +/- 4 minutes so a 6 yr old has a concentration span between 2-10 minutes.

Flagged on his report (report otherwise good). Wouldn't the teacher take age into account?

As a general guide a child's oncentration span is their age +2 in minutes so realistically that's 8 minutes maximum. So a Year 1 teacher should understand the need to refocus attention at that point. As a KS1 teacher i find that a brief break or change of state activity enables children to refocus their concentration for next 8 mins.

But there is a difference between lacking concentration because there is a problem-ADHD etc and lacking concentration because there's much more interesting things going on! The former needs investigating, the latter maturity and a gentle reminder!

Agreed. It was noted on DS's report that his lack of focus was sometimes a problem as it meant he took time to get on with his work, but that generally he has been ok.

I think sitting with a calmer group may have helped but imagine the teacher must see this as being unique to DS rather than an age related thing?

DS tends to behave in a similar way to any group he is placed with over time.

With slightly older kids who tend to struggle to get down and start work (the pencil sharpening, going to the toilet, still faffing about 10 minutes later type) the deal I tend to do with them is that I want them to write the date, title and first couple of words before I let them do these things (obviously not if a child is going blue and squirming for the toilet) - the eliminating the empty page aspect seems to remove the mental block to getting started on work to be honest.

Other ones I do is "I'm going to go check on X and then come back to you and I want you to have... (written the next answer in, written the next sum out etc" - breaking things down into very specific chunks, or putting a pencil dot in the margin where I expect them to have "got" to again works with some children.

Checklists can work - Write the date, write the title, miss a line and start... I'm this kind of person myself - I write very detailed to do lists because I like seeing piles of ticks mount up.

Just a matter of finding what works for a child in question really.

I wouldn't say unique to your DS, I would imagine half the boys in the class had a similar comment on their report ( I could probably say the same about my class although a smaller percentage as I have 5/6's) There are always some children who find it difficult to settle, I have a very similar approach to emptyshell's "I expect X and y to be completed by the time I check" and " You can get a drink when you have completed x" ( drinks and toilets are excellent delaying tactics!) But your DS is still very young yet, his teacher will need to find out what makes him "tick" I found that most boys this age were either very competitive or anxious to please and could use these to help with slow starters.