Concentration is crucial for healthy and productive functioning at any stage of life. In childhood, better focus means faster learning and adjusting to academic, social and other demands.
As we'll look at here, adults can help children develop concentration in various ways. This can include minimizing distractions, providing adequate activity, establishing a well-rounded routine, and much more. Let's look at how to develop a child's concentration in more detail.
Minimize Distractions
Unless they're engaged in some activity they truly enjoy, kids often find it challenging to lock out distractions. In order to help them focus on the task at hand, it's best to keep any environment where a child must perform a specific task distraction-free.
Whether they're doing a household chore or their homework, keep anything that would distract them away. This applies to siblings and parental conversations, pets, loud noise or music, and most importantly, television and phones.
Don't let them use their phones or watch television when they do their homework, as this can make it harder for them to focus. If your child has their own smartphone, encourage them to set their phone aside while occupied with a task.
Establish a Proper Routine
Children need to know what to expect from their days, so establishing a proper routine from an early age is imperative. Doing the same task at the same time every day will turn into a habit, making it easier for children to focus on it.
Eventually, they learn the benefits of routines and start applying them to other areas of life. When the time comes to do a task, they won't have to put in much effort to focus. Moreover, children also need to know where they will perform a task.
Having their own kids' desk for doing their homework will boost their focus because they will be more willing to do it if they have a dedicated space.
Provide Opportunities for Physical Activity
Children have a lot of excess energy and require physical activity to expel it. Make sure they have an opportunity to expend energy between school time and other tasks that require sitting, including homework. It will make them less restless, and they will focus more easily.
Letting them have fun will also make them fill less overwhelmed and allow their minds to regenerate between challenging tasks. Incorporating games geared toward improving focus is equally a good idea.
These can improve a kid's ability to focus. Playing games that require concentrating on specific tasks, using critical thinking skills, planning, and memory can be fun and educational.
Ensure They Get Enough Rest
Children need at least 9 hours of sleep every night. Smaller children need far more and might even require a nap during the day. Adequate sleep is closely linked to better cognitive performance, including memory and concentration.
Set up a consistent bedtime routine, so the child can go to sleep at the same time every night and wake up at the same time as well.
Help Them Set Goals and Timelines
Children often need help setting attainable goals and sticking to timelines. Assist your child in establishing a realistic goal and timeline based on their abilities and skills.
A set timeframe can be as short as ten minutes, or as long as it helps the child focus and complete the task within the limit.
Make sure the child is comfortable with the set timelines because some kids find time limits overwhelming and become anxious when they feel under pressure, which inherently disrupts their concentration.
Let Time Pass before Beginning a New Task
If your kid needs to do several tasks (like homework from different subjects) in a row, allow them a few minutes to rest between them. Remind them what they have to do next, but do not rush them. A great idea for them to encourage these small rests is to have a standing desk.
This type of children's desk will give them the space they need to do something fun such as play a game or draw between their tasks.
Divide Larger Tasks into Smaller Ones
Depending on your child's age and developmental stage, larger tasks might be overwhelming because they require too much concentration and discipline. They might be reluctant to get to it and procrastinate because they know they can't focus for the entire time.
However, when divided into smaller tasks, the child will find it much easier to focus on them. Whether it's homework, learning new skills or household chores, it's less intimidating because it leads to a larger target.
The child will be less resistant to doing small tasks and won't have trouble concentrating. Small achievements add together, and the child will enjoy the completion of the larger goal even more.
Conclusion
Distraction is the enemy of concentration. Therefore, it's crucial to minimize it by reducing screen time, especially when a child does their homework. Children thrive on a consistent schedule, so they should learn to do specific tasks around the same time each day.
To balance the responsibilities, provide plenty of opportunities for play and physical activities. Games designed to improve focus work best, but occasionally the child should be able to choose other activities too.
Rest and adequate preparation for big tasks will boost children's concentration skills, and so can a dedicated place to study with a high-quality child's desk.
