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My son is currantly struggling with concentration.

In september of 08 we lost everything to hurricane ike in texas. As a result we had to move with family in california. My son was uprooted after firs grade had already started. Could these issues be the root of his lack of concentration in class? His teacher wants to hold him back and I'm trying to do everything I can so that won't happen. He never had behavior problems before the hurricane.

Question applies to ages: 6

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avatarBridgette
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Top 5 in: Discipline, Families and Relationships, Growth and Development, Learning Styles, Manners and Values, Parenting Support, Parents and SchoolsTop 5 in 7 Topics		 I'm 40 years old, and I have to imagine that I would have concentration problems if I lost my home and had to leave everything I'd ever known. I'm so sorry that this happened to you and that you're having to go through so many painful adjustments. It must be hard on all of you.

Children are very resilient and they'll often hide how deeply they are troubled by something--not because they're trying to be dishonest, but just because they lack the ability to articulate their emotions and pain.

It does sound like your son needs some extra support right now. The early elementary years can be difficult for children--especially those who are very active and who haven't yet learned concentration skills.

A couple of suggestions:

* See whether the school offers counseling support where your son could work out some of his issues about losing his home, the hurricane, and the fears that might come from that. Play therapy can be especially effective.

* Recent studies have shown that exposure to nature can be a highly effective way to increase attention and concentration. Is there a way that during recess or lunch, he could take a walk somewhere where there are trees? A beach? A river?

* One parent I know who had a child with attention issues would arrive at school early with his son every day. They'd go into the gym and the child would bounce on one of those small jogging trampolines. His dad would throw rubber balls at him, which he would try to catch and throw back. This gave him an outlet for physical activity while giving him practice in concentration.

* Try to engage your son in conversations about the hurricane. Find ways to reassure him that he is safe.

* Consider getting him a few children's books about other kids who have had to deal with hurricanes. (Your library might be able to get them for you.) Some possibilities:
--"Hurricane" by Jonathan London
--"Yesterday we had a hurricane" by Deidre McLaughlin Mercier
--"The Magic School Bus Inside a Hurricane"
--"The sea, the storm, and the mangrove tangle" by Lynne Cherry
--"Hurricane" by David Wiesner (actually, I recommend *anything* by this author, he's very good, especially for sensitive, adventurous children with big imaginations)
--"Hurricane Wolf" by Diane Paterson

Good luck! It sounds like you're looking out for your child's best interest by searching for a root cause of his behavior and enlisting the aid of his teacher. That alone--having a supportive parent--will go a long way to helping him work out his issues.

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