Classroom attention getters

Rachel Cohen, OTR/L

If you’re looking for some classroom attention getters for children who seem distracted in school, our pediatric occupational therapist Rachel Cohen has provided us with some great insight to help these children.

There are various reasons a child may seem more distracted than others at school. Some children who

often seem ‘distracted’ at school, may have underlying sensory processing challenges. Sensory

processing challenges can make it difficult to organize and respond to all of the sensory information

received throughout the day.

Classroom Attention Getters to support a ‘distracted’ child, engage more fully in school:

• Provide and allow for movement breaks throughout the day. Movement can help organize the mind and body in preparation for seated activities. (ie. chair pushups, stretches, jumping jacks, free play).

• Use visuals to enhance verbal instruction (ie. a colored boundary for where to sit during circle time). Children who have a difficult time processing auditory information, can benefit from added visual cues.

• Consider the position of the child’s desk to minimize distractions

  • Sound from air vents, sight of door opening/closing, lighting, amount of foot traffic.

• Incorporate the child’s interests into activities whenever possible. As some children hyper-focus on preferred interests, incorporating them into activities can improve their attention and learning.

• Explore various sensory options (ie. wiggle seat, fidgets). Added sensory input can improve overall focus.

• Provide individual written/visual schedules and to-do lists the child can refer to and check off throughout the day.

• Assign helper jobs that provide ‘heavy work’, such as carrying heavy toys, pulling a wagon, wiping tables, holding the door open. Heavy work paired with a structured task can create a calming/regulating effect.

• Some children may seem more distracted when presented with a new or challenging assignment. Providing more individual support initially can help a child acquire the skills to eventually complete the assignment independently.

• Communicate specific instructions at eye-level to improve attention. Use clear and concise language that highlights key words the child is expected to follow. Ask the child to repeat instructions.

•  If possible, create an area in the classroom where children to go to feel calm and organized.