This morning I was upset about the poor effort he had given the homework that had piled up while school was ‘closed’. The bottom line is that he does not feel compelled to work on things that are not fun.
I had a day planned but felt we needed to chart a new course so we started by going to a large park and taking a dog for a walk.
Under the umbrella of learning perseverance we outlined some basic rules as we walked:
- Work before Play
- Minimize Distractions
- Take Care of your Brain
I am sure that Ben’s brain is a firestorm of thoughts and ideas. Most are fleeting but they keep coming. Maintaining focus on the work at hand, especially if it is not stimulating, is very difficult for him.
Know that his mind likes predictability and structure, I offered to give him a daily plan that outlined the day on a timeline. I offered assistance in maintaining a constructive work environment. I told him that working in his room is a privilege he will earn.
It was a very demoralizing start to the day but I felt good to present him with a prototype of the plan for tomorrow and see that he liked it.
I do not want our days to be regimented and inflexible but I know that structure will help him.
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