Can the ifocus System help Your Kids to Focus Better?

ifocus is a program which combines behavioral strategies, nutritional tips and an exercise program to help transform a child who might have some attention and/or focusing issues; it helps children concentrate through memory activities by playing a game on the computer. This program is a tool that helps parents and children establish a routine, build focus and helps children to do better at home and in school.

Some parents dread when their child comes off the bus or walks in the door at the end of the school day and refused to do homework. Using the strategies in the program, parents create a routine of simple exercises to help children have structured play, maintain a healthy diet and discuss ways to work through behavioral issues ( you and your child will see a positive change). This program is beneficial if both parents and children are willing to make a commitment to some changes and be consistent with following the program’s suggestions.

For the Parents: 1-3 Audio CDs (depending on which program you purchase)

BEHAVIOR: Children act out for a reason, but why are they behaving in a certain way? Is it to gain attention from an adult or to avoid attention; to get a toy or something tangible they want; to avoid a task they may not want to do, such as homework or chores; to avoid feeling a certain way, like frustration because of difficult and large amounts of homework? Once you ask these questions and figure out the purpose of the behavior, you might get a better feel for what you child maybe experiencing. Collaborate with your child so you can both understand the behavior and help others understand the behavior. Once the child feels supported, their self-worth will improve and so will their behavior.

*FOOD: By focusing on the foods that children eat, your child’s focus and attention will improve. What you put into your body does matter and does affect you in both positive and negative ways. Included is a good 7 day sample diet guide to introduce new, healthy foods to your child. It suggests only eating healthy foods, not chemicals and to combine the good stuff with foods in your current diet. The program shows good substitutes for every day, not-so-healthy snacks, that your child might already currently be eating. It also shows and gives examples of creating healthy balanced meals for the entire family.

*EXERCISE: The exercise program stresses fun ways to exercise so children can feel good as they feel positive changes occur in their bodies. Organize your schedule and exercise 5 days a week. Children love exercise! But consider structured exercise, such as swimming which is suggested as the best total body workout. Utilize basic stretches daily to warm-up the body and the mind. Lastly stay motivated and your child will be on board with you. Get your child into the “zone” to help him focus on the rest of the day. I like the suggestion of putting a child in time in as opposed to time out, for him to take time to tune into his feelings and actions, calm down and restart. To see if the program really works requires a least a 2 week commitment period.

*For diet and exercise, you should first consult a physician or seek medical advice prior to beginning any program.

 For the Child: The Jungle Rangers Computer Game

THE GAME: How do you get your child interested in this program? The game included in this program is called Jungle Rangers. It has onscreen instruction and your child must listen, watch (read a little) and focus on the screen while playing. Choose a cadet and let the training begin. Jungle Rangers is fun and interactive. It is specifically designed to adjust to your child’s level as the game progresses. The game uses cognitive training to improve working memory, focusing attention, selective attention and sustained attention. Children can go at their own pace and the game responds to that pace. For example, if you child is having trouble with a memory game, the program will stay at that level until your child becomes consistently proficient before increasing the level of difficulty.

My 5 year old son found this game difficult and was not able to grasp the concept of the games because it did require some reading and he is not at that level yet. My 6 year old daughter tried it out and she liked some of the games; she figured out how to play without any instructions or help from me. She liked seeing the badges she earned as a cadet in training to become a Jungle Ranger. However, she found some of the games uninteresting, but challenging. She played it for 10-15 minutes daily for a week; she does play it inconsistently now and again since that full week of play. My 9 year old son felt it was too babyish for him, but did play it twice for a total of 20 minutes and showed progress in some of the activities he tried.

The whole game, food, and fitness program is a lifestyle change. This program is more than a just a game, it is an approach in the right direction. It takes commitment, especially on the parents’ part. But you can definitely pick and choose some items from this program to try. I think the ifocus program has very positive ideas and has useful tools to help a child improve in many areas. From listening to the behavior CD, I got some tips on how to approach my 9 year old son’s refusal to get his homework done right after school; instead of insisting he get his work done while he was in a “mood”, we went outside for just 10 minutes, kicked the soccer ball around and then came back in and he was more focused and motivated to get his work done. I also found the food CD helpful with food suggestions and snacks to change things up a little bit.

There is a Parent to Parent Promise, 6 month 100% money back guarantee. It is available on an As Seen On TV infomercial, as well as online; there are two editions and prices to choose from and payment details are on the website.

Go to iFocus’ website for more info.

I was provided the deluxe edition of this program for my children to test and review. This post contains affiliate links.