Feb 04 2009
Using Music to Improve Lack of Focus
I noticed a couple of new things about using music to help Gus focus when he’s doing his homework. Typically, we use headphones and some sort of quiet, relaxation music while he’s working to help block out distractions. Monday we tried something different.
He hasn’t been using his headphones consistently, but I offered them to him Monday, and he accepted. I showed him again how to work his MP3, and as I was scrolling through the albums to get to the one he usually likes, he stopped me. He wanted to listen to Earth, Wind and Fire. I wasn’t really surprised, but a little skeptical that he’d be able to work with disco pumping into his ears. I decided to give it a try - he should be allowed to choose what he listens to - but I made the stipulation that if he didn’t pay attention to his work, we were going back to softer stuff.
Homework was completed in record time with minimal redirection or intervention from me. Wow.
Yesterday I tried an experiment. Instead of the headphones, I let him have his Earth, Wind and Fire playing from the computer, out loud. What a disaster! He didn’t even stay in his seat half the time.
So, apparently, headphones make a big difference, but so does the ability to choose what music is playing. It stands to reason. Adults don’t listen to the same thing all the time; we listen to what we’re in the mood for. And for as much as Gus needs certain routines to remain fixed, the strategies that tend to work, particularly to help with his lack of focus, on any given day are always changing. A true enigma, that one. I’m curious to see what he’ll choose today: the Beatles or Mozart or maybe Weird Al?
That was a neat experiment (I’m of course interested in the music aspect!) I wonder if the headphones made the difference because they block out the rest of the world, or if he just wasn’t in an Earth, Wind, and Fire mood when you played it on the computer. But it sounds like letting him choose worked well, so that’s good! I’m trying to help my little one make choices now since it seems to be something that always helps kids feel more in control. I wonder what he will choose next!
@Mike - Agreed! I do my best writing when Dave Matthews is playing via headphones, but anything else and I’m distracted. Don’t know why it took me so long to figure this out for Gus.
@Gina - When I had the music on the cp the problem was that he was TOO into it! He was trying to dance all over the place. Almost liek the headphones kept him contained. I think you’re right about them blocking everything else out.