Hobbies And Interests
Memory Puzzle
The task of holding a pattern of objects in memory and recreating it with another set of objects provides a strong motivation for a person to sustain her attention and follow through a task. Arrange a sequence of objects such as a group of coins, a tangram puzzle or pieces of cut out construction board, and allow the player to look at this pattern for a set amount of time. (Five seconds might be a good place to start, depending on the complexity of your puzzle.) Next, cover the objects with a piece of paper or cardboard and have the player arrange an identical set of objects into the same pattern as quickly as possible. As the arrangements gets more complex, the player will be able to keep an intense concentration through a longer and longer assembly process.
Speed Seeking
Word searches and activities similar to "Where's Waldo?" are excellent attention-span builders because they require a methodical and detail-oriented approach to visual search. Lay out the activity page and have the player race you to find the hidden object or image. Keep track of who has the most successful finds, and declare a winner after five or 10 rounds. Adding an element of pressure makes the activity more urgent, forcing the player to stay mentally present, and rewarding sustained concentration with a victory.
Delayed Reaction
An inability to focus can manifest itself as impatience and even reckless behavior. Counteract these impulsive tendencies with a game that rewards a delayed and deliberate response. Clap your hands to a beat along with the player. When you stop clapping, he should continue for 10 more beats and then yell out a word or make a silly sound. For a more challenging game, have him stop clapping too, and ask him to count the beats in his head before yelling out. He must control the desire to make a funny outburst by focusing on silent counting. If the player struggles, let him perform the counting while jumping or even bouncing on a trampoline. A burst of aerobic exercise sends oxygen to the brain to release tension and improve concentration.
Distracted Storytelling
Tuning out distractions is a major part of learning to pay attention in everyday scenarios. Ask the student to tell a simple, well-known story such as Little Red Riding Hood while you (and other people if possible) make every effort to distract her. Potential distractions include yelling out questions, jumping and flailing, or even poking and tickling the player. If the player can stay focused and reach the end of the summary without responding to your distractions, reward her with a round of applause.