If drawing, lacing, and buttoning are not your child’s favorite activity this blog post is for you! I have found in practice that a child is more willing to participate in a non-preferred activity such as lacing which are challenging at table-top in a fun environment of an obstacle course. If you cannot sneak an obstacle course in while trying to do homework here are some strategies to test out:
· Tape a homework worksheet or just a piece of paper on a wall and have your child run or perform an animal walk to the end. Provide child with gross motor input before performing non-preferred activity.
· Turn taking with coloring. I will often color a picture with a kid and start out with coloring for 3 seconds each. After the child understands that the activity has a beginning, middle, and an end I find they are more willing to participate. I can get them to participate for longer periods by being dramatic such as elongating how I say one, two, three to ooooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnneeeeeee, tttttttttttttwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwoooooooooooooooo, thhhhhhhhhhhhhrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
· Movement breaks in between non-preferred activities for positive reinforcement: have the child perform a few jumps or animal walks after finishing a set number of math problems or after 10 minutes at the table.