Children's ability to focus, and maintain concentration has significantly declined in recent years thanks to the rise of social media and short-form video content on apps such as TikTok and YouTube. This has led to real concern within the academic industry because these abilities significantly impact a child's academic success. If you're a parent, this is likely a big concern of yours. Fortunately, there are practical methods that you can employ to increase your child's concentration and attention span. This article will explore these methods which include creating a designated study space with specialised furniture and introducing frequent study breaks. If you want to boost your child's attention span-read on!
Understanding Concentration and Attention Span
For the purpose of this article, I will define attention as the ability to focus on an activity or issue and concentration as the capacity to sustain attention for an extended period of time. Your child's academic success will largely depend on their ability to both concentrate and maintain attention. If your child has good concentration, they will be able to learn more efficiently, understand difficult ideas and exercise critical thinking. They will also be able to retain information more effectively than others, which will improve their performance in exams, quizzes and homework.
However, despite its importance, many children struggle to focus or concentrate. This can be for a number of reasons which include:
- External Distractions: External distractions like mobile phones, cluttered or uncomfortable workspaces and disruptive classmates can hamper your child's ability to focus.
- Boredom: If your child does not feel the task at hand is challenging them they may get bored and thus, struggle to focus.
- Stress or Anxiety: Your child could also be struggling to focus due to anxiety or stress which could be related to their home environment or situation.
Creating an Optimal Study Environment
To help your child to overcome distractions you could set up a dedicated study space for them. This designated space should be away from household distractions like the TV or mobile phones and should have everything that your child needs. By designating a specific study location, you make it easier for your child to shift into a focused mindset.
A kid's desk should act as the focal point of your child's study space. Children's desks offer features that improve productivity and concentration because they were designed with the unique needs and requirements of children in mind. For instance, they often provide storage areas for arranging school supplies, maintaining order in the workspace, and lowering visual clutter which, if left untouched, can interfere with concentration. They also often feature ergonomic add-ons such as a tilting desktop or a slanted writing surface which will encourage good writing posture and thus, comfort. These elements help to create a setting that encourages focus and maximises your child's learning potential.
We suggest that, when looking to purchase a kid's desk, you look at height-adjustable desks. This is because they can change to meet the evolving demands of your child as they grow. These desks are simple to modify to fit a child's height, providing optimum ergonomics and encouraging excellent posture. Children may become tired or uncomfortable if they are not sat in the proper sitting position, investing in a height-adjustable desk will help to overcome this.
Incorporating Breaks and Physical Activity
According to research, children who engage in short bursts of physical activity - like walking or running during a study break - perform better in terms of concentration than those who do not. It is likely that this is due to the fact that exercise makes children feel more alert and boosts their mood. Or alternatively, this could be due to the fact that physical activity increases blood flow to the brain.
A great way to encourage your child to have more movement throughout the day is by investing in a height-adjustable desk. This is because they give your child the ability to adjust to a standing position, in which they can undertake movement such as stretching, pacing, or doing mild exercise. This active strategy not only breaks up long periods of sitting but also promotes circulation and aids in maintaining energy, focus and concentration.
Another great way to boost your child's concentration and focus is implementing regular study breaks into their schedule. This is because long hours of uninterrupted study lead to decreased focus, productivity and even memory retention. Regular breaks will allow your child's brain to relax and recharge, meaning they can return to work with fresh vigour and focus. You should encourage your child to take a break every 25-30 minutes. In this break, they should engage in calming activities like deep breathing, or alternatively engage in some physical exercise to help them regain focus for their next study block. You should discourage them from sitting on their phone or social media apps during this break because this will make it harder for them to return to work.
Concluding Thoughts
In conclusion, a diverse strategy is needed to boost your child's concentration and focus. A dedicated study space, incorporating breaks and physical activity, and using specialised kid's desks are all great ways to empower your child to thrive academically. If you're keen to get started, check out FlexiSpot's offerings!
