Are you wondering why your child has trouble focusing? What are the causes of low attention span in children and how can you help them increase it? While there are many scientific studies on the subject, as a parent or caregiver, you shouldn’t jump to conclusions. Whatever is the cause, there are many fun and creative ways in which you can help your kid improve their focus. Keep reading to learn more!
How can I improve the attention span of my kid?
If you see that your child is having trouble with all the homework and school responsibilities due to a low attention span, you shouldn’t lose hope. There are ways to overcome such issues if you have a plan. Here are some useful tips:
● Include physical activities
Kids love to stay active and sitting can make most children feel fidgety or restless. This is one of the purposes of PE class at school. However, it’s equally important to channel this extra energy while at home. Experts from Uptown Jungle Peoria recommend that you consider some physical exercise combined with spatial reasoning.
● Plan breaks
Young children are known to have short attention spans, so it’s essential to have breaks every 10 – 15 minutes. This way, they will be able to retain information, you’ll prevent them from getting bored or sleepy, and you’ll keep their interest in the topic or skill they’re working on.
● Vary the intensity of activities
The initial activities need to be light. Whether it’s math or physical exercise, consider that some of the activities are just a warm-up or a breather. If you have a really ambitious plan for the day, you don’t want it to fall apart after a really intense workout.
● Make sure your time frames are age-appropriate
Each time frame of a particular activity needs to be adjusted to the age group you’re working with. For example, if you’re working with a group of 5-year old kindergarten children, each activity should take 3 – 10 minutes maximum.
● Identify and eliminate all distractions
Visual distractions in the classroom or at home can be one of the reasons why certain children have trouble focusing. Other distractions could involve phones, toys, trinkets, loud noises from the hallway or the street. Make sure to prepare the study room for your kid in a minimalist, but comfortable way. Keep toys, gadgets, and devices in a separate room. Keep track of what’s on their table and talk with them about the ground rules. If they notice that they have lost focus, they’ll tell you.
● Memory games
Help kids memorize to keep them engaged. This way, they’ll be able to stimulate their brains with an activity of counting, sorting, and classifying. If this is what they tend to do naturally, you’ll put their quirk to good use. Also, this is a way to discipline the mind against distractions and enrich associations.
● Break down assignments into smaller tasks
This is one of the most important points to keep in mind – any task can become too demanding if you don’t split it into chunks. Go step by step and give them some time. Once they’re done with their project, essay, or subject, it will also encourage them to repeat the whole procedure, as it will feel less tedious and daunting.
● Reward them
Even the smallest wins need to be celebrated and rewarded. This could be symbolic, but your kid will know how to appreciate it. Besides, it will shape their mind in such a way that they’ll learn how to reward themselves for their achievements. If done with sincerity and consistency, this system can go a long way and turn them into truly successful individuals.