Attention Training Games

Recording Your Child's Performance

1. Use different-colored ink to write down your child's performance of each game.
2. If you haven't done so already, calculate the percentages correct from the recording sheets.
3. Plot them separately for visual and auditory tasks on the Comparative Performance Record. Each dimension of your child's attentional process may be plotted over time to chart his progress.
4. Compare visual and auditory attentional processes across tasks that increase in complexity (from focused attention to divided attention) and record these on the Performance Record.
5. Use these graphs to document your child's improvement and to give feedback on how well he's playing the games. When you point out the improvements over time, he'll be more motivated to continue to play and to deal with greater challenges.

The Point System

Note that for each game, you can set a goal based on your child's performance on the previous games. The key is to set a goal that's just slightly higher than the previous score and not too difficult for him. This will increase the chances of your child's success. Use a point system in which your child gets ten points for meeting or exceeding his goal. Additional points may be earned by the percentage of correct responses on each game. Thus if he gets 50 percent or greater, additional points may be awarded according to the following guide:

50 percent = 5 points
60 percent = 6 points
70 percent = 7 points
80 percent = 8 points
90 percent = 9 points
100 percent = 10 points

Adapted from Power Parenting for Children with ADD/ADHD by Grad L. Flick, Ph.D.