Our children are bursting with so much energy that it’s difficult to keep them in one place for more than a few minutes. How, then, do we ensure they pay attention to their flashcards on all days?
Answer- We don’t!
We let our children be themselves and not force them to sit still for a session.
RBE is most successful when applied in a fun environment. If you or your child is stressed out during the session, it won’t have the same effect.
So, here are a few things that will go a long way in making your flashcard sessions less stressful and more joyful. :)
Stick to a distraction free environment- It’s better to fix a place(even furniture) where you do your sessions everyday. Ensure it has minimal distraction like toys, keyboard, music and other sounds.
Break your session into 2 or more parts- In the beginning, you may want to break down your session into 2 or more parts so that it only lasts a few minutes/seconds. The key is to stop before the child wants you to stop.
Pick a time when they’re stable- Child sitting on a highchair? Or having their meal? Bring out those cards! Look for the perfect time when they’re relatively stable for a few minutes or so.
Give them something to fiddle with- Keep their hands occupied! It is one of the most useful pieces of advice I received when I started flashing cards.
Flash them on a TV if your child is distracted by the laptop keyboard or touch screen.
Lastly, it’s okay if your child is a little distracted during the sessions! Some children need to move around a bit to better absorb the information. Try encouraging them to use actions with the cards and let them move around while the cards are playing. Children have a much better peripheral sense and hence can absorb information with all their senses. They don’t need to focus like us adults. :)
Which of these pointers are you going to try for your next session? Let me know in the comments section below!