Dealing with 7 year old son! Help!?

Question

i am a 23 year old mother of a 7 year old boy. well lately i been having problems getting my son's attention. i cant get him to do his homework, i cant get him to do small chores at home because he easely gets distracted by something else. For example.yesterday i had to tell him like 20 times to do his home work, a packet of 5 pages and he had to write something he did on the weekend , one day for each page. It took him 2 hrs to even start 1 and he didnt do it not untill i had to be sitting down right next to him..he wouldnt leave the chair, but would start tapping his pencil on the table... or reading what he had to do over and over for like 1 hr but it seemed like he had no clue what it ment..again i would tell him "please J.J im not playing games with you im serious" and he wouldnt joke around or laugh or tell me he didnt want to do it..he would just go back to the paper but in the matter of seconds something would have his attention..most of the time "the pencil" I NEED ADVICE" plz

Answer 1

my son is 6 and i will tell you what works with him...Take time out and laugh and have fun with him.take away all sugars,give him fruits and veggies,for afternoon snacks.reward him with simple chores..when their that small it's hard for them to focus on alot of things...turn off music,tv,and ask him how his day was.there could be something bothering him at school.he may be bored as well...My son is adhd,and kids that are adhd,need to be on a strict schedule...he is only 7 and if you try these things and they don't work...talk to your doctor...I have 2 boys and i am 36...It can be challenging and hard.honestly try these things ok...

1..give fruits and veggies

2..positve,positive, :) tell him how smart he is,how you appreciate his help.. ;) works with my son.

3 early to bed..make sure he gets alot of sleep.

4 read to him,then have him read to you..

5 patience it will workout...enjoy him.

  

I hope this helps and if it helps,I want you to know he is a typical 7 year old...you are doing fine with him it sounds like..

as a mom myself,I know how it feels to get overwhelmed.

God Bless and best of luck... :)

Answer 2

Check out ADHD symptoms online....

Or just plain old ADD....

It's worth checking out the telltale signs.

Answer 3

here is some advice...dont have unprotected s*x when you are 16 years old

Answer 4

That sounds exactly like me as a kid!My mom always had to hound me to get anything done and it took hours.  I found it so hard to concentrate but it gradually improved as I got older, I still procrasitinate a lot and find it very hard to focus.

I dont know what advice to give you really I dont know if there was actually something wrong with me, I was smart but just couldnt focus, maybe an educational psychologist could help?

Answer 5

I have a son of 7 who has ADHD. I know it can get a little hectic afterschool when the kids come home, you have dinner to prepare, homework to supervise as well as your other responsibilities. I will tell you what works for my son.



I noticed in the beginning of kindergarten that he would space off while doing homework, play with his pencil tapping, pushing or flinging it, if I had a window open he'd stare out in a zone.  School was giving me reports of incomplete work. We took him to a school psychologist & when given increments of times for deadlines he'd finish all his work. He has been labeled a gifted child however with his adhd he loses focus immediately so his " gifts " are actually not being used at these times.

   Everyday after school we have a routine. We get home, he gets a light snack like fruit & soy milk which lasts only 15 minutes with no t.v or radio on, afterwards its time for homework. Make sure no friends are over for visits at this time nor do I have anything that may distract him in plain view like even a toy or silly as it may sound a window shade must always be down or he'll stare out the window and space out. I sit with him and watch him to do his homework and help if he needs it.  

In addition you know what else I did I do to make sure he doesn't fall behind we do homework in the kitchen. It's a neutral place that doesn't have t.v no kid distractions plus I use the timer on the stove to time each homework assignment he has. If he misses a deadline there are repercussions if he completes it within time he gets a reward.  

Sometimes I tell him I give him a " challenge " he likes those I'll say " that homework looks tough I bet you can't finish it in 20 minutes" knowing it will take less time and he'll say " its a challenge " and sure enough he'll want to " show me " he can do it.

We've been doing this for close to two years now and he's always getting great reviews about his homework. Now in school work is another problem we are trying to work on, he came home with a math progress report with nearly all of his work incomplete & wrong. It looks like he was just writing literally any old number down to get done. I literally copied those same math problems timed him and watched him and low and behold 2 out of the 23 math problems were wrong the rest were all correct suprise suprise. The same work he had in school which consisted of 1st grade addition, subtractions, more or less signs, and telling time he did the work properly & without any major problems. I did not help because I know he is capable of that work and he is, he just loses interest and if he's not watched closely he'll  do his worst. I know a teacher can't do this constantly with 18 other kids in class but we are hoping a smaller classroom for him next year will really put his abilities to good use although he is gifted now if we allow his adhd to interfere with his abilities it will all go to waste.

So unfortunately i know it may take time away from your other duties you will need to implement some of the things I'm talking about to make things easier for your son &you. Believe me when I look at the time & think I need to get this or that done I check myself & remember that will be there later this is more important now.

best of luck

Answer 6

I agree with the ADHD or ADD thing. My sister was 7 when she was doing the SAME thing. It really sounds like you are having the same issues My mom has (still) with my younger sister who is 11 now. Hope it helps.

Answer 7

Tell his pediatrician...what your explaining is signs of ADHD

Answer 8

My 8 year old has some similar issues.  It sounds like to me that there might be more going on than just a disinterest in school.  As other mentioned ADD or ADHD may be something you need to talk to your pediatrician about.  After a recent appoint with our  specialist I learned that making sure mine took a multi-vitamin with iron and fish oil capsules which include DHA can dramatically improve one's attention.  DHA is a component often found in fish and some other foods but it's very limited and necessary for focus and attention.  This is something easy to do first before taking additional steps such as medication for attention.

Answer 9

Man that sounds like what I have to go through with my daughter.

Answer 10

You may want to get him tested for adhd. My son acts the same way and is the same age. He was tested and he has adhd.

Answer 11

talk to his teacher and see if he is like this in calss too. It may be that after school he is too tired to concentrate on homework. That is a lot of homework for a 7 year old. Do you let him play for a while after getting home before starting homework? Kids get too much homework. Most adults don't work all day then come home and work more, yet they expect kids to

Answer 12

Your son sounds like he could be my daughter's twin.  We've been dealing with the same issue ever since she started school at age 4.  

I think you're giving him way too many chances to behave.  If you're telling him the same thing "20 times," then that is about 18 times too many.  Asking for obediance that many times takes all of the impact out of the request.  The policy at our house is "I ask you nicely the first time, I'll remind you nicely a second time and if I have to say it again, there will be consequences that will not be so nice."  I can only imagine how frustrated you must be with this.  

What if you consider tomorrow to be a fresh start?  Sit down with him and explain, in a clear voice, how things are going to be from now on.  And then actually do it.   You have to show him who's in charge: YOU.  You might have to sit next to him for the first few days and guide him through the work.  Set up some consequences for allowing himself to get distracted by silly things when it's homework time.  With consistency, time and lots of loving praise from you when he does the right thing, I bet you that he'll shape up.  

By the way, I wouldn't jump to any conclusions about ADHD yet.  He's only 7.  He needs a chance to get through this on his own and without medication (I'll spare you the speech about the drug companies!).  Sometimes kids just lack maturity.  It doesn't mean they're hyper.  Best of luck!

Answer 13

The thing you can try is not talking/explaining so much. Some kids respond to instructions right away, and some need to be shown what is expected of them. After telling him one time that it is time to do homework, guide him to the table.  

You might try telling him that there is no T.V. or toys until homework is done. This way, he will know that as soon as he gets home, it needs to be done.

I did that with my son and would set a snack at the table for him like apple slices or crackers with cream cheese and a drink.

He is now 10 years old and for the past three years has come home and taken himself straight to the table to do his homework.

If these tactics don't work, you might want to try helping him make a game out of the homework. Some kids just respond to it better that way. Or, there could be an underlying problem like A.D.D.

It is however my opinion that many A.D.D. diagnosis are due to lack of dedication, patience, or interest on the parent's part to find an approach that their child responds to favorably.

Answer 14

I have a 7 year old son who hates school too. My wife always tried to get him to do his homework. She finally had it because he would always get mad about doing it. Mainly he would overreact if he didn't get something and just completely give up. He often forgets his homework to do at school then lies to her saying he didn't have any. But always gets caught. Recently we became very strict about it. He goes to bed at 7 now instead of 8 and and can't watch tv during the week. Now I get him up early which he hates. He has always been a night person evan as a baby. So I get him up and make him do his homework in the morning. So far it has worked out pretty good. He did great the first few weeks. So we let him watch tv a little more. I wouldn't worry about ADHD or anything. Don't let people scare you. He is a boy and in the past people would leave it at that. Now drug makers like to come up with problems so they can prescribe medicine and make tons of money. When he likes what he is doing I'm sure he pays lots of attention. So I would try being more strict and let him earn things back for trying.

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