Help! How to train my child's concentration?
- Sep 11, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 9, 2020
I have always found children with Autism Spectrum Disorder fascinating. Each can be so unique in their way, unlike stuttering. One example is one child can be sensitive to machine sounds and another to the sensation of bright lights, they present with very different symptoms.
But it has come to a consensus that, attention span can be a big challenge.
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The tips below can be most useful for children under the spectrum but anyone who just wants to enhance a child's attention span can also find this useful by adjusting according to the child's situation.
Start small!
If your child has poor attention in playing, start easy - doing things they enjoy. The goal here is not how well they complete a task but them maintaining engaged throughout a period of time. Don't forget to observe how long they can actually pay attention to a task, this will help set a baseline as to our child's capacity in attention span.
3,2,1 - TIMES UP
No matter if your child can or cannot maintain attention across even their favorite activity, a timer is a great tool. Start introducing timer to them can be beneficial to developing their attention span little by little. Eventually, a more challenging task that requires more sustained attention will become manageable.
Yes, your child can behave well most of the time, engage in activities but when it comes to 'mundane' tasks like completing homework, this can be deflating. This week, I watched a video from Hong Kong Autism Association-ways teaching an autistic boy to wear masks, nothing but the timer worked! They started with 10 seconds, 15 seconds, 30 seconds...... and eventually, the child was comfortable enough to wear the mask for an extended period of time!
Practical: Depends on your children's temperament, but usually, the shorter the better. Begin the timing at a short period of time, notify your child that the task is only 10 seconds (for instance) and place the timer in front of the child so they can see. As it rings, REALLY let them know it is time up and the task is done. After a break, do it again, but this time, gradually increase the time. Remember! you do not want to get too ambitious! Consistency is key. If they cannot complete the task with the new time, return to a shorter time.
Praise (throughout + after)
Would you enjoy being complimented when you have put great effort into your work? This is the same for children. It is the appreciation and recognition of others.
Praising can be extremely powerful especially to children with relatively low esteem or are timid. It builds up their confidence and motivation to keep going.
Practical: praise your child throughout and after they complete a task e.g 'Wow, you have stay seated for a long time! So concentrated.'. One or two positive words will also do the work, but be sincere, look at them. Because they will know it.
Reinforcers (+ explain why)
Reinforcers are anything that motivates them to help reinforce their previous actions. This can be anything from eating their favourite chocolate to playing their favourite toy. Initially, a reward system is established and followed. They complete a task well, a reward is given. Reinforcers give our children a purpose and goal for them to achieve.
Often, to children as young as 3 years old, they find no reason to stick in the chair for 20 minutes or more. Contrary to a 9-year-old who becomes more self-aware and self-controlled, responsibilities are acknowledged and from then on, a reward system is not needed.
A common concern: would my child become reliant on rewards in a way that they think no matter what they do, they must get a reward when they grow up? No, again, as they grow up as independent and responsible individuals, they learn that certain things in life have to be done no matter if they like it or not, e.g going to school. Sometimes even, reward systems can turn useless simply because children are over it, they figure the bits and tricks of it.
This is best done alternately with the task: e.g. 2 minutes of completing workbook exercises, 2 minutes of playing ball, then 2.10 mins of completing workbook exercises again, 2 minutes of playing ball....
Playtime should be the same or less than the time spent on target tasks. (Break time and work time should not differ too much)
Practical: Before setting them off for a break, let them know why, e.g 'Because you have been so concentrated, you can play your robot now.'. Being explicit is always important to autistic children because often times, they cannot pick up social cues, they do not understand why things are done that way. Be patient and explain to them, make sure they understand as well.
As mentioned, this is a video that I find extremely interesting and beneficial in giving us some guidance to training our children's attention. Filmed by Autism Partnership Hong Kong :
That is all for this blog, again, children with Autism Spectrum Disorder are unique individuals, these steps can be useful for most but not everyone. The most important is never give up and keep trying.
Drop me a message if you have tried these tricks! Does it work or not? I would love to discuss and learn more if it does not because this is what JoySpeech is for: to learn and grow as a team to bring better communication with our children.
Hope you all are having a great day and don't forget to smile!
Joyce Lau
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