B a r b a r a s h e r I l L u s t r a t I o n s b y r a L p h

Games for 6- to 12-Year-Olds
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different art form requiring pastels, watercolor, or oil painting. Or she may
have satisfied her interest in art for now and has a completely different
interest. Stay tuned.
W
H A T
’
S
B
E I N G
L
E A R N E D
Children are learning that they can be open to a wide variety of possible
interests and learning how to focus on specific ones.
Focused Fidgeting
Some of us are born fidgeters. We gnaw on pencils, drum our fingers, tap
our feet, pace or doodle when we are on the phone. There’s nothing wrong
with fidgeting, and it doesn’t mean your child is not paying attention. It’s
an effective way of releasing excess tension. If your child has that need,
here’s a way to honor it by giving him something that is infinitely 
malleable—sculpting clay.
It could help him deal with such situations as sitting still and listening
in the classroom.
T
Y P E S O F
A
T T E N T I O N
E
N C O U R A G E D
Open and focused
M
A T E R I A L S
Sculpting clay (oil-based clay found at hobby shops, school supply
stores, and variety stores)
D
I R E C T I O N S
Give a small piece of sculpting clay to your learner and suggest he play with
it when he is required to sit quietly. Sculpting clay is oil based, so it never
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Attention Games
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dries out. It can be twisted, squished, flattened, and rolled and is always
satisfyingly responsive to all poking and pulling.