Short Attention Span

Attention deficit disorder, also called hyperactivity, is the most common of the learning disabilities. It occurs in 3% or 4% of children, mostly in boys. This characteristic is usually inherited. To help your child compensate, try these approaches:

• First, improve his listening skills by reading to him. Reading to your child every day is probably the most important gift you can offer him.

• Second, improve his concentration skills by playing games with him. Start with puzzles, dominoes, card games, and dice games. Matching pictures is another excellent to build his memory skills.

• Third, improve his ability to complete tasks by assigning chores. Make a checklist that highlights when he completes a task.

• Fourth, read a book or take a class on limit setting. These children need more carefully thought out discipline than the average child. And since they tend to get into trouble, they also need frequent praise regarding their good points.

• Finally, protect your child’s self-esteem by accepting his high energy level. Some day, it will be an asset.

During Dr. Schmitt’s 20 years as a medical practitioner and researcher, he has published over 100 articles or chapters on pediatric health care, and has been awarded the distinguished C. Anderson Aldrich Award by the American Academy of Pediatrics for outstanding contributions to the field of child development. Schmitt has also authored five books including Your Child’s Health, which won Child Magazine’s first Hall of Fame Award in 1991. Schmitt is also a professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and on staff at The Children’s Hospital in Denver, Colorado.