Staying focused means paying particular attention to something. If kids are not guided, they end up losing focus. It can be a little irritating if a child is supposed to work on something important but get carried away by something else. However, it is normal, although they need to pay attention. This is how;
Turn off screens and cell phones. Before your kid tackles homework, or does anything that requires concentration, turn off the television. This will help them focus on homework.
Make a distraction-free environment. Some children respond well in an environment that is peaceful and calm, but other children may thrive in an environment that has a lot of activity.
Make a to-do list. Having chores and homework assignments can be tiring for kids. Help your child focus on getting things done by making a list together of everything they need to do for the day or week. However, they should cross off each task as they finish it.
Take breathers. During homework time, make sure your child takes a few breaks. After working for 10 or 20 minutes (depending on their age), have them get up and move around, get a drink, and then go back to work. But don’t let them get involved in something else during the break. Make that time for just relaxing.
Boredom can also lead to lack of focus. Keep kids busy, when they are idle at least let them play games. This helps them think broader.
Let the materials be reachable. Keep everything that is required at hand so that your child does not need to get up to get anything. For instance; all homework books, crayons, textbooks, pencils and even water. This also helps keep track of how much work is left and helps you to manage your time better. All this helps kids improve focus and increase attention.
Poor feeding makes kids lose concentration. Research shows that eating healthy food has a direct link to how well a child concentrates and there are different foods that help increase a child’s concentration. Eating junk food or food rich in sugar makes a child sluggish, while food rich in proteins, such as almonds, eggs and lean meat, have the ability to raise awareness and increase concentration levels.
Allow kids take some rest. Most children are able to concentrate best after a good night’s rest. Let them sleep early so that they get enough time to rest. They can even take a nap during day, even if they don’t wish to, just convince them to.
Set a time limit for the completion of a goal. If it is studying, task the little ones to read up to certain pages in a specific time.
Develop a routine. Homework and study should take place on a schedule. Once you establish a designated time for homework and stick to the routine for a while, your child will be less likely to protest or resist.
Read aloud. Reading aloud to young children has many benefits, including the fact that it boosts listening and concentration skills. Choose books that are appropriate for the child’s age and developmental level, and try to find stories that will encourage children to pay attention, these are usually stories that entertain, excite, or fascinate.
Play games that build concentration skills. Blocks, puzzles, board games, and memory games all help children develop the ability to focus, pay attention, and see a task through to completion. And these activities are fun, so they do not feel like ‘work’ to children.
Raise your voice in a controlled way. If children stop paying attention or wander off, it’s fine to raise your voice to call them back to attention. However, you don’t want to scream at them.
Speak clearly. Children are most likely to stay focused if you speak clearly and slowly and avoid using foreign words or vocabulary that’s too advanced for the grade level.
editor@newtimesrwanda.com