As your children reach school age, you probably worry that they won’t get much out of class if they’re prone to fidgeting and distractions. However, it’s important to realize that kids develop focus over time and some level of distraction is normal. That doesn’t mean you should throw in the towel when your child refuses to focus on a task.
Thankfully, though kids are inherently easy to distract from boring tasks, there are some simple approaches you can employ to improve your child’s attention span.
Nourish their Minds
Proper nutrition is essential in the development of young minds. Make sure your children eat a hearty breakfast each day. Foods like eggs, healthy greens, nuts and oatmeal can help improve your child’s cognitive function. The better cognitive function can lead to longer attention spans.
Set a Routine
Children of all ages benefit from routine. For younger children, the method can be simple and flexible. As your children age, make it more rigid and include more items. Make sure to cover the basics of daily life, as well as activities for attention and learning games. The incorporation of timed “study” sessions helps children adapt to the idea of working on a task until it’s finished.
Limit Screen Time
The American Academy of Pediatrics contends that screen time is not beneficial for children under five years and should be limited strictly. While some educational apps can be introduced to young children, they should be used with the supervision of an adult. Studies have linked overuse of electronics to problems in concentration, social ineptitude and other issues. Because of the potential adverse effects of screen time on young children, a strict limit is needed.
Practice Concentration Daily
For young children, hands-on educational games can help improve focus and attention span. Scheduling time each day to solve problems with interactive games, build things and engage in scholarly activities will help your child develop focus. Make learning fun in a controlled environment.
Break Down Difficult Activities
Anything which will take your child more than 15 minutes should be divided into smaller tasks. Splitting one substantial activity into three smaller ones helps your child keep focus. Additionally, kids feel accomplished at the completion of each task, motivating them to continue.
Be Flexible for Each Child
Every child learns in their unique ways. Children can learn better visually, auditorily, or kinesthetically. As your children grow, determine how they learn. Then, help them understand activities through their own methods.
For visual learners, drawing out a problem or making flashcards can help them learn. Auditory learners will benefit from reading aloud and listening to soft music during study sessions. Meanwhile, Kinesthetic children will require hands-on activities to illustrate abstract concepts. Provide your children with the tools to help them learn and the know-how to use them independently.
Following these guidelines can help you raise children who are prepared to focus and pay attention in class, both valuable skills. What are some of the ways you improve your kids’ attention spans? We’d love to hear your experiences and tried and true methods.
