Increasing Focus

Help your student develop their focusing skills by asking them to repeat back to you what you said. This is also a great way to ensure communication is taking place.

Turn off the TV or go to a quiet area away from other people who are talking. Get rid of clutter in a work space. Or have kids sit away from the window when they work.

Mindfulness exercises and deep breathing are great for focus. Take a one-minute pause. Close your eyes, breathe in deeply for 4 seconds, hold your breathe for 2 seconds and release it for 6 seconds.

Some students focus best when they're sitting. Others may need to move - try a yoga ball or a some alternative seating. Is it easier to focus when it's quiet or does some background music help your student work and get the job done?

For some students, a fidget device actually makes focusing easier. For others, it can be a distraction. Try using one and monitor how it affects your student.

To help your student refocus, develop some kind of cue - a quick whistle or a snap, touching your nose or tugging on your ear. Something they'll recognize that will remind them to get back to the task at hand.