Some children and young people may need support with attention and focus in school. They may have trouble hearing their name being called, reacting to sudden noises, focusing on two tasks at once, staying focused for long periods, or switching between tasks.
There are classroom strategies for developing attention and listening skills for younger children. Young people that find it difficult to listen to multiple step instructions, or plan and organise for different activities can be supported with their executive functioning. Environmental adjustments such as seating position, reducing visual distractions, and clearly labelled learning spaces can support attention and focus.
Other children and young people have high levels of focus and can experience difficulties speeding up, adapting to new information, and making transitions from one task to another. Support learners with micro transitions. If perfectionism and the fear of making mistakes is making it difficult to move on explain that making mistakes is a part of everyday life, talk about what you do when you mistakes, some good examples of social stories to support making mistakes are accessible on the Happy Learner’s website.
Impulse control can impact staying focused on tasks, being patient, and the ability to pay attention and listen. There are different strategies to support hyperactivity and impulse control.
Young people might jump to conclusions, make decisions, or act without thinking, have difficulties moving from one task to another, and can be more focused on the here and now rather than any future rewards or punishments. They may take risks without fully understanding consequences, lack danger awareness and be vulnerable within relationships. Teaching social rules using social stories and comic strip conversations may be needed to support wider understanding of different social constructs, there are examples of social stories to support different social rules on the Happy Learners website.