Is your child easily distracted? Here are 9 tips to help him focus

How do you teach a child to focus? Learn about why your child is distracted and some focus exercises for kids here.

What can you read in this article?

• What does lack of focus look like in children?
• Causes of child focus problems
• Tips on how to teach a child to focus and focus games and exercises for kids

As a homeschooling mom, one of the things that I’m having trouble with when teaching my daughters is their lack of concentration. Because my two girls share a classroom, a working space, and even a teacher, their banter and squabbles would often turn a 10-minute seatwork into an hour. That’s an hour of me constantly reminding them to focus on their work. A lot of time and patience lost in the process.

In this day and age where information is everywhere and our children have access to different kinds of resources, what sets a smart kid apart from all the rest? It’s their ability to focus on their goals and the things that matter to them.

According to Psychology Today, one of the most important skills that parents should teach their kids in the 21st century is to be “indistractable.” It’s the ability to manage their time and attention instead of being swayed by the distractions that are ever present in the digital age.

I often wonder, what will happen to my daughters when they’re back in their physical schools, when I won’t be there to remind them every 10 minutes to focus on their work? Indeed, teaching a child to focus is a skill that will be very useful to them long after we’re not with them anymore.

What does lack of focus look like in children?

Now that we’ve observed our children more closely as students (whether homeschool or online classes), we’ve had a chance to see how they go about with their school work. Do their homework right away? Do you constantly have to catch their attention? Are they easily distracted by other things around them?

Here are some signs that your child might be having problems with focus and concentration.

• Unable to or struggle to follow through on things such as homework or tasks.  Likes to procrastinate (or have a habit of putting off things to do later instead of right away)
• Quickly lose interest in games and activities
• Rarely finish or take too long to finish assignments
• A constant need to be stimulated (You always need to call their attention)
• Likes to daydream in the middle of a task
• Is disorganized and always have trouble finding their things

Now that we have an idea of how lack of focus might appear in children, let’s look at what may be behind your child’s inability to pay attention.

Causes of lack of focus in children

• Insufficient sleep

We’ve seen it all before. When your child had a long night, usually, she won’t be in the mood to wake up and go to school the next day. In school or in her online classes, she would appear sluggish and disinterested in the lessons.

There’s a reason kids need enough rest, especially on school days. Research shows that when people are sleep-deprived, their brain waves lapse into brief sleep-like patterns while they’re awake, explaining why exhausted students seem to “space out” in class.

• Inappropriate diet

Does your child skip breakfast before going to class? It may have an impact on his concentration. According to WebMD, studies have found that eating breakfast may improve short-term memory and attention. Students who eat it tend to perform better than those who don’t.

But you also have to pay attention to what your child eats. While foods that are high in sugar or glucose might give us a quick boost, research shows that it doesn’t last long. After around 20 minutes, the glucose levels will drop, leaving us feeling unfocused and easily distracted.

• Lack of routines

Is your child so used to “winging it?” While being adaptable is also an important skill, kids thrive on routines. It provides them with a “certain way of doing things.” They do better when they know what to expect.

For a child, having a lack of routine brings uncertainty. It overwhelms them and this may be responsible for their lack of concentration.

• Excessive screen usage

One of the biggest culprits that child experts are looking at when it comes to children’s ability to concentrate, self-regulate, and other learning disorders is excessive screen time. Studies suggest that screens overstimulate your child and therefore reduce their ability to focus.

• Stress and anxiety

Children who live in stressful environments or experienced trauma may also have difficulty paying attention and suffer from a persistent sense of insecurity called hypervigilance.

Meanwhile, Ken Schuster, PsyD, a neurologist and former school teacher says anxiety “tends to lock up the brain,” making school hard for anxious kids. Children with separation anxiety may be preoccupied with thinking about being away from their parents that she is unable to focus on their schoolwork.

Some kids are overly anxious about embarrassing themselves or making a mistake that they tend to shut down so they will go unnoticed.

• Other disorders

Learning disorders such as dyslexia, or auditory processing problems can also lead to focus problems in children. It can also be due to a behavioral disorder called attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but your child needs to be evaluated and diagnosed by a professional.

Lack of focus can become a major roadblock in your child’s ability to learn. But the good news is that there are different strategies you can try to help your child focus and pay attention.

READ MORE: 

Parents’ Guide: 7 ways you can prepare your child for preschool

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Learn how you can improve your kid’s attention span

Tips on how to teach a child to focus

1. Give a sufficient amount of autonomy

“Parents need to understand that it’s okay to put their kids in charge, because it’s only when they learn to practice monitoring their own behavior that they learn how to manage their own time and attention,” said Nir Eyal, a technology entrepreneur and author of the book Indistractable.

The more your child feels involved in choosing their activities, the more likely they are to focus and concentrate. Research showed that asking kids to plan their activities in advance helps increase their interest, concentration, and creative skills because they feel personally responsible for managing their time and activities.

Instead of imposing a set of rules without even getting their inputs, it’s better to ask your child how she wants to go about her schedule. What time does she want to do her homework? How many minutes of screen time can she get in a day, and how she plans to observe the time limit.

You can explain to her what the effects of her plans and decisions will be. For instance, too much screen time comes at the expense of other things like playing with her toys or spending time with her pet. This gives her an opportunity to independently think of a way that she can best manage her time and allow her put her full concentration on a certain task at hand.

2. Prevent or limit distractions

As the saying goes, “Out of sight, out of mind.” Even adults have a hard time concentrating when there are a lot of distractions around us, so to help your child focus more on her school work, you can create a dedicated workspace for her, with her things neatly organized and free of any clutter and possible distractions. Try to minimize noise and other things that can cause her to lose interest in her school work.

However, she must also know how to deal with distractions at one point. So when your child is having trouble focusing, encourage him or her to get up and take a short break from what he or she is working on. She will be in a better disposition to study after the break.

I have learned the 30-10 trick from my sister. Where you set a timer for 30 minutes dedicated to working, followed by a 10-minute break. This technique helps when my girls are finishing their homework for school, and me with my deadlines.

3. Adopt a routine

As mentioned earlier, most children do best when they have a set routine they can stick to. You can help your child create a daily schedule that includes time for homework, study breaks, and any other activities. Try your best to stick to the schedule as much as possible so that your child can work on focusing on one task at a certain time. But don’t forget to leave some room for free time where your child’s brain can relax and recharge.

4. Encourage pretend play

Researchers and learning experts think that intentional make-believe play or pretend play is an important aspect of learning and is a key element in children’s cognitive development.

Charles Schaefer, a play therapy expert, said that role-playing helps a child learn to think ahead and reflect on appropriate responses to frustrating situations. Because of this, they are more thoughtful, flexible, and creative in the face of everyday problems.

5. Encourage your child to read

Can’t get your child to sit still and focus? Encourage him to read one book every night. Reading requires the brain to focus on both the words and the storyline, therefore developing and sharpening your child’s focus and concentration skills.

6. Communicate with your child better

The more your child receives multiple instructions, the harder it will be for them to follow through. So instead of confusing him with multiple instructions, why don’t you begin with simple instructions first? Break down the instructions to make it easier for him to understand. And after that, ask him to repeat what you said to make sure he’s actively listening.

7. Use a tool or a signal

A timer is a great tool to help your child keep track of how long they can stay focused on a task. This can motivate your child to focus or concentrate on a task longer every time.

And if their mind wanders, you can come up with a hand signal that you both know and recognize to remind them to refocus. It can be a specific word or gesture. Allow them to use it to you as well, when you’re drifting off to your phone when they’re trying to tell you something.

8. Be receptive to your child’s needs

Different people need different environments to concentrate. Some require complete silence while others work best if they hear a little background noise. Ask your child what would help him focus more. Identifying what works best for your child can help reduce their inattentiveness.

9. Try some focus games, toys, and exercises

Learning experts suggest using strategies like games, toys and exercises to help a child focus. Games like

• • Freeze Game
  • Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
  • Memory games
  • Puzzles

can teach a child to focus. While mindfulness activities like deep breathing or coloring a mandala can help your child to self-regulate and pay attention to one thing at a time. Some suggest toys like fidget spinners and stress balls to help a child focus, although you need to observe if it’s indeed helping them concentrate on their task or it’s just creating a distraction.

If you think your child has a major difficulty in paying attention, listening and staying still, you may also opt to consult a developmental pediatrician to have your child assessed for possible learning and behavioral disorders.

Source:

Psychology Today, Raising Independent Kids, Understood.org, Childmind.org, Oxford Learning