Have you thought about using silly puddy?  Could you give them scratch paper that they can do that to (like maybe a notecard or something)

Good Luck!

Hi Jefferson,

Could you give your child a small, soft ball or toy to squeeze when he reads?  If he anchors the pages with one hand, but needs to keep the other hand busy to help him concentrate, then the little "squeegy" ball can occupy his other hand.  Likewise, when he's writing, one hand will be busy with handwriting, and the other with the ball.  Perhaps even holding a pencil or pen while your child is reading, will discourage paper twisting.  Or having a doodle pad handy.  Ask your child what would help him the most, because changing one habit for another will require that your child likes doing the new thing.  It's important that this new habit be a quiet one, for your child's concentration and for those students around him.  Adults devise all sorts of constructive habits to help them concentrate when they're reading and listening, as we can see when we go to a library or listen to a public speaker!!!

Have fun figuring this out with your child.


Sylvia HS
Reading Specialist, Author