Learning Information

If you want to improve his attentions span take away his TV and computer. Something about watching them decreases it. Don't know why but it does. It's like their brain doesn't have to work for the information and it gets lazy.

I always thought learning the old fashioned way worked best.
Puzzles, flash cards, candy land and chutes and ladders games, Go Fish, Old Maid...you can use any of the card games to play the "memory game".
Turn the cards face down and let him choose one. Then let him choose another. If it's a match, he gets to keep the cards. Then you take a turn. The point is remembering where the cards were. You can start out with 12 cards: 4 across and 3 down. Make sure there is a match for each set. It really helps with memory. If you don't make a match, you simply turn the cards over again and pick another two cards. It's pretty fun. You'd probably be surprised how easily he remembers where the cards are.
Computers are fine. My kids did puzzles and different reading things, but like I said, I found the old fashioned stuff more effective.

You can string beads on yarn in a certain pattern. Let him examine it for a few minutes and then take them off and have him put them back on in order. They actually do those things on IQ tests. They are very simple "attention" exercises.

Best of luck!

A physician told me about ABCya.com - it's geared towards kids a little older than mine, so we don't spend a ton of time there.

If you can find an education supply store (we have United Arts and Education locally), I'd recommend going there and getting some posters at $2 each of things you'd like to work on.

My best advice, though, is simply to do things like read to him, ask him questions, find FUN ways to engage with him to reinforce what he's learned this past year without making it a chore. When learning isn't fun, kids disengage. If he's interested in things like Transformers or Toy Story, use the movies as a guide to ask questions about things he's learned (example: What letter does Optimus Prime's name start with?)

Well, this is tricky. I get that you want to use the computer b/c it's something he likes, and that's a good idea. However, like someone else mentioned, media like computers, tv, video games, etc. does decrease their attention span. Watching things on tv and computer, etc. makes your brian sort of go into overtime with all the noises, colors, movements, etc. and can attribute to some of the attention span issues when children are expected to pay attention to "real" people!

I think you should use the computer a little bit, but limit his time and go back to playing board games, flash cards, etc. Get out and explore, talk and read! Reading is one of the best ways to increase knowledge and vocabulary! Most libraries have free summer programs and the kids can even earn prizes, so check out your local library!

Yes, there are games for kids for the computer, but I would recommend leap frog or maybe V-Tech........they have plenty of great games and learning programs that go up into middle school.......

Plus he will love it.......just make sure he gets alot of interaction with other kids.....and maybe get him some flash cards.....you can also play games with him, like board games......here's a recipe on how to make one....

Manila folder board game.

Get a file folder, open it up, and draw circles or squares or triangles, whatever you want and make a game board. Be sure to leave room for pictures either drawn or cut out. Then either buy clear contact paper or take it and get it laminated. Then go to the dollar store and buy some cheap "game pieces", they can be erasers, or whatever they like.......next cut some paper and make playing cards. These can go from ABC's, pictures or words, to letters and sounds, whatever you want. You can laminate them too if you want........Get some dice......now you are ready to go.......you can use the game for quite a while, and you can just changed the cards as they progress to new things.....When the board is in bad shape, make a new one......this can go on for years......and it's cheap, simple to make and they have fun playing a game, not realizing that they are learning as they go.

I hope this helps, remember, stickers are great too for the board, cards and as rewards for a great job done!

try the Jump Start computer programs - start with Jump Start Preschool, then do Kindergarten then if he can move on to Jump Start 1st grade all the power to him.

http://www.time4learning.com

starfalls.com is a great website for reading and they have educational games, and activities for reading. I aldo came across mathcafe.com for math.
I hope he enjoys these websites.

Absolutely!

Especially if he is a visual or kinesthetic learner, you may find he grows by leaps and bounds using the computer.

The best site for intro to reading, hands down, is also free. www.starfall.com

ReaderRabbit (becomes ClueFinders later on, and does both math and reading) is about $10 per game and is fantastic.

TimeForLearning is one we haven't used, but is VERY popular amongst homeschoolers.

http://www.lessonpathways.com/ (has just become free... used to be by subscription) is great for lesson plans and website links

iSpy is also one of our favorites (kiddo's fave has been SpookyMansion, but there are tons of options)... it's not technically educational... but it does encourage looking closely, following directions, etc.

3 more good sites just for general ed:

www.pbskids.org
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/
http://kids.discovery.com/

For computers, my kids always liked the Jump Start computer software.

However, I do agree with Shane, that puzzles, card games, and board games are great for teaching. It makes learning fun.

Also, read, read, read, and read some more. It helps with language and learning sentence structure. It helps with vocabulary. Make weekly trips to the library.

Have a great summer.

www.starfall.com is great for phonics and reading

Also pbskids.org is good. If he waches programs, many of the programs like Word World or Super Why are educational related. Martha Speaks is good for vocabulary. Those shows also all have games on PBS Kids.

Also, check your local library for free software games for the computer. My son loves those!

Mandy,
Aside from the websites that other mothers have given you, you can also look at this one www.birdrockfamily.com
I used to buy all sort of educational cds and games for my children here. Their prices are good and you can monitor what your son is doing. He will get better, just give him a little while longer and if you can try doing stuff with him. Make games out of your regular day to day activities, have him count how many tv's, windows, doors beds, chairs, etc. are in the house, have him make shapes with toys, and tell you the shapes of the items he is counting. There is a lot you can do with him, but it is also time consuming when you just sit there to do something; so try to make it fun and give him a good praise when he say the right anwers. You can get or make a reward chart for him, and after so many stickers on the chart for the right anwers then you can take him out for ice cream, or something like that :)
Blessings

Yesterday, I read a newspaper article... on the way we are all tethered to the web/computer/blogs/checking our e-mail/cell phones/ etc.
It said... that although it is just part of life now and the way our society is... that the "attention spans" of even adults, gets affected (reduced) by being online/tethered to electronics all the time... over time.
It is just the nature of it all... and our desensitization to it... and impatience with the normal pacing of 'natural' life.

So that was interesting.
Not that I will change my entire life because of it... but, in relation to children, they too get affected by it. Not all kids... nor all adults. But some are just more impressionable or affected due to their personality scope.

But yes, my daughter's Teacher recommends www.starfall.com as well.
And its free!

I would also play cards with your son... all kinds of card games for kids. This helps a lot as well, and it is fun. Also watch the pacing of things...
Or take him outside... have him collect leaves... rocks.... certain shapes etc. Or teach him how to cook something... or use workbooks.... all of these things, uses a different part of the brain to process/focus on the subject... and then complete the task.

good luck,
Susan