Behaviour - Get My Child To Pay Attention in Class

TutorGiant.com

One of the greatest problems students (and parents) face is a deficiency in attention skills.  Students who do not pay attention in class miss out on important content, lesson instruction, directions, and skills. 

As a parent, it is frustrating because it is difficult to exert control over your child’s attention skills during school time.  It is almost impossible for teachers to make sure if all 20 or 35 students in their classrooms (I once had a math class with 40 students!) are all paying attention at all times.

If you find that your child does not always pay attention in class, you can create a reward system that may motivate your child.

There are numerous ‘reward systems’ that parents can use in order to change their child’s behavior.  The types of systems that are used are dependent on the child’s age and grade level.

Here are some reward systems you can try out or combine, in order to help your child pay more attention in class.  Remember, you know your child best, so find the type of reward system and reward that will motivate your child.

 It’s best that you discuss your strategy with your child’s teacher first so that you can work together for better results.

1. Give younger children a few popsicle sticks (with some kind of

    marking on them) to take to school.  At the end of the day,

    have your child’s teacher (granted your child’s teacher is willing)

    take away a stick every time your child was caught not paying

    attention that day.  Your child must come home with certain

    amount of sticks each day or week in order to receive the

    reward that you have planned.   Conversely, you can take away

    privileges if a certain amount of sticks are not brought home.

2.  For older students, you can simply have your child’s teacher

     write in your child’s agenda on a daily or weekly basis.  The

     teacher can write whether or not your child was paying

     attention in class and how often. 

It is recommended that you and your child create a contract and decide on a fair reward system.  This will help your child feel that he/she is being involved in the process and has some control over his/her behavior.

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