Jan. 23, 2009
Challenges with a child who won't sit still
My 7 yo is active. Very active. This child just can not sit still for 2 minutes. He has been a challenge to teach since day one. Sometimes it is all I can do to keep from pulling my hair out. It became such a fight with him to get him to sit down to do his math I finally made a deal with him. He would be able to alternate days-one day he works out of his math workbook and the other day he gets to do math on the computer or do some other sort of "fun" math thing (using manipulatives, games, etc). Today he was using play money and had to make certain monetary amounts. Even this was a fight because of course he had to sit still to do it. UGH! I don't know what else to do. Does anyone else have a child like this? He is a very smart boy and seems to learn things by osmosis or something, but getting him to do any sit down, structured type lesson is like torture for both of us. Sometimes I think that he should be completely unschooled, but then that wouldn't be fair to the other kids. And he doesn't really like to read, because it is not active enough. I am not quite sure what to do to reach him...
Throwing my hands up in the air,
Dawn
Comments
Jan. 26, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by homeschoolshelter
I gave up making mine sit still at that age. It's just unnatural for some kids. You know, in the old days they didn't even force kids to start school until age 8.
I allowed my oldest, who is my RBL, to stand on the chair, walk around the table, hop up and down. Amazingly, the kid still learned all the stuff necessary.
Some day your son will be mature enough to sit still for a long time. I'm still sort of sad that day has come for my oldest.
Good luck. It takes a lot of creativity and patience to teach kids like that, but I have found it to be a great deal of fun as well.
• Permanent Link
Jan. 31, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by PuddleJumpers
Hi there, I had a thought with the money thing that may help...maybe set up a grocery store with things from your kitchen? Put the prices on there you want him to figure out, that way he can move and still practices a life skill he will need. You can be the cashier. Sitting still? My 7 year old has days like that, he is getting better this year. But I know on the days he is "fidgety" we will do things like push/pull..for some reason this helps him to refocus, what I do is have him push or pull things across the floor or outside for a few minutes and then come back to the table. He has to accomplish so much more "stuff" and it is marked, then he can have a nother break. What I have found that is over time, he is taking less and less breaks just to get done sooner. Just a thought. Also, maybe do some of the work orally? I do that with him also. I'll be praying for you, I sure do know that sort of frustration. :)
~Lori
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/henhouse
• Permanent Link
Cindy Rushton