Paying Attention/Focus

My friend told me once that boys are easier to handle than girls when they reach their teenage years, but for now while they are still young, they are playful, hyper active at times, and their attention span is not that long. My son who is six year old is having difficulty paying attention, and so I need to remind him constantly. I just wished that there is an effective way that will effectively work for him, just like a diet pills that work for those who wanted to shed unwanted fats! For now, patience, prayer, understanding at the only way I can continue to do to keep him from listening and doing thing he was asked to do right away. How about you? Can you share me suggestions that really work for your kids?