Daily Tips for Families

Today's Tip for Families

12-10-2023

Work With Your Teen to Overcome Attention Issues

You have noticed that your teen doesn’t seem to be paying attention to you. You only make it halfway through a sentence before your teen's eyes start to wander. You might want to write it off as a typical teen behavior. But what if your student is also having trouble paying attention to the teachers?

Attention issues can affect students' schoolwork and other parts of their lives. If your teen has difficulty concentrating:

Ask what’s going on. Some attention problems can be caused by situations or distractions in your teen’s life, such as boredom, frustration with limits, or an argument with a friend.
Consult the teachers. Ask what they've noticed about your teen's focus and about concentration strategies that can be used in the classroom.
Work together. Discuss your teen's interests. What captures your student's attention? Try to relate those interests to the things your teen is learning. Also help your teen break large assignments down into shorter pieces that require less concentration.
Ask advice from other students' families. Listen to their experiences. What solutions have helped their teens?

If you are concerned that your student’s attention difficulties might be severe, consult a doctor.

Brought to you by:

Travis Middle School
Jennifer Wilkerson, Principal

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