Distractibility: Is the child distracted from a task by things going on around her?
Not Distractible 1...2...3...4...5 Very Distractible
The distractible child notices every thing that is going on around her. Not only is she distracted by external stimuli, but she also will be distracted from a task by her own thoughts, daydreams, and internal stimuli. This is a delightful trait in many ways but definitely causes problems in a classroom with 20 other children. Again, this trait may fall in the category of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder if it clusters with overactivity, impulsiveness, and other evidence of serious attention difficulties. Learning to focus is the most important school task for this child. A good strategy for her to learn is the LISTEN technique. This technique is important to use when the teacher is giving instructions.Write the following acronym on a poster to learn and practice at home, and put it somewhere in the child's school materials where she will see it frequently at school.
L-ook at the teacher
I-dle your motor (stop thinking about other things)
S-it up straight
T-urn to the teacher
E-ngage your brain (think about what the teacher is saying)
N-ow
If your child is bringing home schoolwork that wasn't completed during classtime, distractibility may be the cause. Meet with the teacher to implement a plan to re-focus the child's attention when she becomes distracted during independent work times.
- Management Techniques for Difficult Traits - Very Distractible (Elaine Gibson)
Persistence: How does the child handle frustration, initial failure on a task, or being told "no"? How long does he stay with a task?
Gives Up Easily 1...2...3...4...5 Stubborn
Although the stubborn child is more difficult to deal with at home, it is generally the non-persistent child who has the most trouble at school. This is the child who will stop all attempts at a task once he reaches the first stumbling block. He may elicit disapproval from the teacher because he is constantly asking her to explain things to him rather than attempting them on his own. Frequently, he will turn in an incomplete paper or fail to do his homework because he didn't understand it at first glance. The non-persistent child also finds it difficult to stay focused on a task for more than a few minutes. He needs to learn strategies for staying on task. At home, he should take breaks while doing homework, then return to the work. A kitchen timer is a useful tool for monitoring this strategy. Parents and teachers can find ways to encourage the non-persistent child to "keep trying" with lots of reinforcement for completing tasks even if they are not done perfectly.
- Management Techniques for Difficult Traits - Non-Persistent (Elaine Gibson)
- ParenTalk Newsletter: Preteens: Teaching Kids That It's OK To Take Risks
More Temperament Styles
