How to Increase Attention Span in Children?

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Hi,
It's been a very busy week for me. I'll keep the ranting to a minimum till next issue. Take care!

Thought for today:
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference." - Reinhold Niebuhr

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How to Increase Attention Span in Children?
Attention span among children is notoriously short and inefficient. Almost all children lack the ability to concentrate for a longer duration on any given task. There are many reasons for this perceived deficiency.

How to Increase Attention Span in Children - Methods and Tips
To enhance attention span among children, parents may need to devise a dual faced set of techniques, those that remove barriers to poor attention spans and those that they can introduce which eventually enhance longer spans.

Q1: What is the disorder where a child or teen is highly intelligent and capable of doing their work, but in school or life they have not been challenged enough mentally so they decide to just quit, and lower down to their peer's level? And most likely fall behind then. Up to the 6th grade, I was the highest in my class, I had skipped 2nd grade, and was always in honor roll.

Then come 6th grade, everything was so easy for me so I decided to just kind of give up, and try to fit in with all the other kids because I thought being intelligent was a terrible thing. I wasn't challenged enough, so I basically just pretended to be dumb....

A: There is very limited information that is given so I am assuming that you are indeed gifted. It is called “burn-out” and it is not a disorder but a condition that happens when mentally unchallenged in the world of giftedness. Why would you think being intelligent is a terrible thing? Were you treated differently? Did something happen to make you feel that way? Did you seek any help then or did anyone try to help you when you started under performing from what you usually achieved..... Continue to read Dr. Sandhu's answer on Burning Out Syndrome here.

Q2: I believe my younger daughter is extremely gifted. Unfortunately, she is also extremely empathetic. It cripples her. For example, today I was on the phone and found out something upsetting. Even though I didn't yell, my daughter could tell I was angry and started shrieking inconsolably. It took me almost 20 minutes to calm her down. This is a common event, although today was more extreme than usual. Do you have any advice for coping with such extreme empathy in a child so young?

A: Heightened sensitivity and intense emotions are among the distinct characteristics of a gifted child and is demonstrated as early as in infancy. Your child appears to display these characteristics, which is why she is quick is pick on emotions in her environment and react to it. Especially being so young, I can understand your concern on how to help her cope.... Continue to read Dr. Sandhu's answer on Coping with Extreme Empathy of the Very Young Gifted here.

Q3: I need help interpreting my 17 year old daughters WAIS-IV scores.

Verbal Comprehension - 134
Perceptual Reasoning - 119
Working Memory - 102
Processing Speed - 81

I understand that there is a large discrepancy in the VC and the PS.... 53 points! And 32 point discrepancy in WM and PS is also significant.... But what does it actually mean? Is it ADD or something else?

A: The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) is a test designed to measure intelligence in adults and older adolescents between 16 years to 90 years of age. It is an individual test and takes about 75 mins to administer. Her results are very hard to interpret as the discrepancies are large and there is no breakdown on the results.... Continue to read Dr. Sandhu's answer on Interpreting the WAIS IV Score Discrepancy here.

Child's Mind: Mindfulness Practices to Help Our Children Be More Focused, Calm, and Relaxed
By Christopher Willard, Ph.D

This is a book for adults and children looking to find more peace and quiet in their daily lives. Psychotherapist Dr. Christopher Willard provides an overview of mindfulness and meditation techniques, clear and detailed exercises designed for individuals and groups, and personal stories that demonstrate the ability of mindfulness to empower children and adolescents.

Child's Mind is an invaluable resource for teaching our children that confidence and power come from the ability to be aware of and comfortable with ourselves and our surroundings.

Total Focus: A Comprehensive Program to Improve Attention, Concentration and Self-Control in Children
By Dr. Robert Myers

A comprehensive, step-by-step program that will help your child improve attention, concentration and self-control - to see improvement both at school and at home. Bonus Audio - ADHD's First Aid for Parents, General Relaxation for the Whole Family and Happy Parents.

Too Much TV, Computer Use For Toddlers Could Damage Brain Development: New Study
IB Times Oct 10, 2012

An influential British medical journal is formally asking the government to set guidelines for young children's television and computer watching habits. Doctors recommended that children under three years of age should be kept away from television screens altogether, or else they are risking long-term cognitive effects, according to the Guardian.

Fast food children 'develop lower IQs': Junk diet has a lasting effect, warn experts
Daily Mail Oct 03, 2012

Children given more fast food meals will grow up to have a lower IQ than those who regularly eat freshly cooked meals, according to a study. Childhood nutrition has long lasting effects on IQ, even after previous intelligence and wealth and social status are taken into account, it found.

Brain Connectivity Predicts Reading Skills
Scientific American Oct 09, 2012

The growth pattern of long-range connections in the brain predicts how a child's reading skills will develop, according to research published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Why Piano Lessons For Young Children are Worth the Effort
Our Kids Oct 10, 2012

In recent years, there have been an increasing number of studies showing the learning benefits of music lessons and music education and the overall effect on children's brains.

Babies have sweet spot for language development
WANE Oct 09, 2012

Babies are born ready to learn any language in the world, and they have linguistic super-powers that many adults don't. For instance at 6 months old, they can distinguish between sounds in different languages that non-bilinguals hear as the same, such as an English "d" and a Hindi "d."

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