For most children, focusing on a single task can be quite challenging. As a parent or guardian, you do not need to get worked up because your child gets bored quickly when doing something. All you need to do is to understand your child and apply the 10 steps below that show how you can teach your child to give attention to activities:
1. Make it fun
You have probably noticed that your child is jaded up quickly if they do something that is somehow serious. Involving games or singing may make them concentrate better. After all, it is never that serious.
They find it easy to remember to do certain things and not lose interest quickly. Involving your child’s friends may also be an interesting option as they enjoy the company and learn as well.
2. Create time for play
Your child can’t learn throughout the whole day and not have time for playing. Just like you, when you take leave from work, they also need to enjoy themselves and socialize with others. It is for this reason that schools have playgrounds.
When it is time to learn, be firm and let your child learn. After that, create playtime as it is important that your child gets to have this time to rest. Your child will appreciate both times well.
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3. Remove distractions
One of the greatest enemies of concentration is distractions. Children are easily distracted by other things such as noise and electronic gadgets. You can help maximize your child’s concentration by ensuring that they learn in a clean and quiet environment that has very minimal distractions.
Remove electronic gadgets that may draw their attention away. With nothing to bother him or her, all your child’s attention is centered on that particular activity for that period. If something pops up that catches their attention, allow them to enjoy it for a short time then go on with learning.
4. Focus on your child’s interests
It is said that people give their all when they do things that interest them. In the same way, your children will focus more on things that fascinate them. One way to know these things is by observing their behavior as they carry out different activities.
Thereafter, you can look for an approach that matches with those interests to make concentration more natural. If they are interested in music, you can involve them in singing activities which will make them concentrate on learning the lyrics of the songs.
5. Healthy eating and sleep
For a child to fully concentrate on something, they need to be in a good health state. As a parent, you should give your child foods that aim to promote attention such as whole grains and proteins. Avoid spoiling them with junk food as these foods slow down your child’s activity level. More empasis should be on healthy and natural foods that have a high nutrition value.
It is also important that your child gets enough sleep during the night. This gives their brain time to rest and prepare for the next day. A well-rested mind is always ready to learn and barely gets bored.
6. Divide tasks
Getting your child to concentrate can be quite simple if you apportion tasks into smaller pieces. For instance, if you are teaching your child to clean, it may be better to do a section of the room at a time. This encourages the child to get more involved in the activity as it seems achievable.
As you divide tasks, give enough time to perform the task depending on the age of your child. Remember children at different age groups have different energy levels. The time your six-year-old child takes to perform a task may not be same as that of an older child.
7. Create a routine
Routines make it very easy to concentrate as your child knows that the particular task or activity is the most important at that time. For instance, you can set a routine that they need to be in bed by eight hence they need to have completed their tasks before then.
Another tactic to use is to plan things in advance. This will keep your child interested as they cannot wait for that time. For instance, if the activity involves cooking, your child will take time to ask a few questions in preparation.
8. Set short term goals
As a parent, one important skill to teach your child is on setting goals as this helps them concentrate more. They will understand that certain tasks need to be completed within a period of time.
If your child is prone to procrastination, set time limits so that they can concentrate and finish the tasks in time. They will not have an excuse to drag their feet.
9. Promote exercise
Exercise is quite good for your child’s memory as it encourages proper blood flow to all body parts and particularly the brain, which is the mother of concentration. It rejuvenates your child and gives them energy that helps them actively engage in activities. You can look for various exercise activities that your child can participate to boost his or her concentration.
Incorporate both physical as well as mental exercises to stimulate all parts of the body. However, as you do this, please remember that your child’s body is still tender and should not be subjected to heavy exercises that will drain them.
10. Encourage your child
Your child will always look up to you when they do things. This is because they wish to know whether you are pleased with them or not. As a parent, you need to support them through everything they do and reminding them that they are doing a good job helps them to concentrate better.
Furthermore, you can reward your child once in a while just to lift up their spirits. This also inspires them to concentrate and complete tasks as they may be rewarded. Your child will understand that people need to work in order to be remunerated.
Conclusion
All in all, children are different and their learning and concentration spans are diverse. Applying the above tips in a way that gets your child interested in things will definitely make them better at concentration.
