With the country in lockdown, I have been working from home, as many of us have. I have grown up with some big focusing issues, and I was homeschooled for a little bit. Here’s what’s helped me to focus, and what might also help your kiddos.

Make a list

For kiddos with ADD or ADHD, it can be tough to know where to start. Making a list of priorities and tasks that need to be completed is a task in and of itself to help meet the end goal. Providing a visual and physical list can help kiddos be goal-oriented, and nothing feels better than being able to cross something off the list. I do this even to this day, and it helps me see big picture goals and become more focused on completing small tasks to finish an overall goal.

Use a time timer

Some children might have difficulty with the length of time dedicated to focusing on one subject, and this is where timers help. When I was a kiddo, my dad would set the microwave timer to count down for how long I needed to spend on studying history, math, or sciences. For kiddos that need a little extra support, using a Time Timer can be a productive solution. The user can set the Time Timer for a period of time, and the remaining time appears in a bright red. This makes it so that you can instruct your kiddo “okay, focus on diagramming a sentence until there is no more red on the timer.” Providing a visual concept of time can help kiddos with ADD or ADHD have a finite measure for how long their attention on a task is needed.

Reward incentives for completed tasks

We all like to be rewarded. Using incentives for task completion can be an effective way of getting kiddos to focus or work for a period of time. Incentives can be anything from an extra 10 minutes of game time, a few gummy worms, a walk around the block walking the family dog, or whatever you like. The important thing is to help incentivize kiddos to focus or complete a task by giving them a reward.

Introduce heavy work breaks

For kiddos with ADD or ADHD, it can be necessary to introduce some stimulation into their sensory diet. One of my OT friends recommended that, if I have trouble focusing, I try doing some pushups, jumping jacks, or get a good 5-minute stretch to help stimulate my body and focus my mind.

Weighted items

Using a weighted lap pad, weighted vest, or weighted blanket can really help kiddos focus for a long period of time. Giving them a little extra proprioceptive feedback as they study and learn can be great for focusing. I use a weighted blanket and take turns using it for 1 hour on, 1 hour off so that my body has some diversity of sensory input.

Back to classics

For me, music with words can be a little distracting. I like to find Spotify playlists with classical focus music, and it has helped greatly. You can check out my favorite playlist for focusing here.

Chew on this

While trying to focus, sometimes I clench my jaw, chew on my cheek, or nibble the end of pencils. Something that always helps me is silicone chewies. Whether they’re little robots that attach to the end of a pen or a heart-shaped pendant, they do really help relieve pressure on my jaw and help me focus. You can check out a lot of them here.

Active seating

When I was homeschooled, it was always tough to sit at a desk for a long period of time. I found myself to be most productive at an old sewing table or on different couches in my parents’ home. I noticed that even moving from seat to seat with different tasks helped me focus a little bit better. I also recommended yoga balls for active seating. For me, fidgeting to focus is crucial and yoga balls help with that. For kiddos that have other sensory preferences or mobility needs, there are a lot of active seating items on the market. You can take a look at a lot of options here.

Staying focused

For kiddos with difficulty focusing, there’s no one “one-size-fits-all” rule. Every kiddo is different, and while some things may work for some, they may not work for all. Trial and error is a good way to determine the supports your kiddo needs, alongside advice from teachers and therapists.