Take a favorite activity or game and incorporate it into the practice session. A good example is using a puzzle. Pick one task to do (good posture while playing, a repetition of a small passage of music, etc.) and the child can collect a piece of the puzzle. If they collect all the pieces of the puzzle, they can put it together at the end of practicing. If your child collects only some of the pieces, put them aside and continue with the game at the next practice session. Either the child will not want to wait and do more, or have something to look forward to at the next practice session.
This can be done with board games too, where you get to move your piece after each task completed. Making a paper chain is another fun activity for small children. For each repetition they can put another ring on the paper chain. You can up the stakes and have your child do more tasks and hence receive more pieces or moves. The kids love to see the results of their effort!
Children have a hard time sitting still and using only small muscle coordination, so it's beneficial to their concentration to let them get up and do something physical. You can incorporate this into your game playing by putting the puzzle piece, beanie baby, favorite doll, anything the child likes a lot, up a flight of stairs, across the room, outside, etc., so they can run to retrieve the piece. Encourage them to go as fast as they can. It creates excitement and gives them a mental break so they can focus at a high level when they get back.
Always, always, stop playing one game and move to another activity before it becomes boring. If you stop at the height of fun, your child will remember they activity as fun and look forward to playing it again. It's too late if you keep playing the game until the student becomes distracted or bored.
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Children have a hard time sitting still and using only small muscles, so it's beneficial to their concentration to let them get up and do something physical. Incorporate this into your game playing by putting the puzzle piece, beanie baby, favorite doll, anything the child likes a lot, up a flight of stairs, across the room, outside, etc., so they can run to retrieve the piece. Encourage them to go as fast as they can. It creates excitement and gives them a mental break so they can focus at a high level when they get back..
Again, stop this game and move on to another while they still are having fun!
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Kids love colored markers. The more colors the better. When students keep forgetting a note, I have them use their favorite color to mark it. This way they are using another stimuli to remember that note. If they still forget, I have them give that note a character like, does it sound like a mouse? a door bell? and then act it out "Squeak Squeak" or "Ding Dong". They can even draw a mouse next to it. Every time they come to that note they have more stimuli to associate to it and will remember it better. This way they are having fun and will absorb the material better than "just doing it again".
Apply multiple creative activities into practicing, and your child will be surprised when the 10 minute practice session is over!
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Copyright © 2004
Copyright © 2004