Helpful Tips to Improve Your Child's Concentration Levels

Do you remember being a kid? Sitting at your desk, surrounded by books and assignments but your mind kept wandering to other thoughts like your favourite board games or what fun you would have when you met your friends next. These thoughts are normal; none of us really enjoyed studying but when push came to shove, we concentrated and got the job done. However, there are some kids out there that are just unable to concentrate; even the slightest external stimuli sends their mind wandering off into a new direction and abandoning the task at hand. This constant break in concentration tends of impact their academic performance as well as their overall well-being.

In this blog post, we shall explore what concentration means, why it is crucial for children, what factors contribute to poor concentration, how to identify if your child is facing this issue, and finally, we'll delve into practical tips to help improve your child's concentration levels.

What is Concentration:

Concentration is the ability to focus one's attention and mental energy on a single job or activity while avoiding distractions. It acts like a spotlight, allowing children to successfully absorb information, solve issues, and accomplish tasks. Concentration is not just necessary; it is essential for a child's learning and development.

What Can Lead to Poor Concentration:

There are several factors that contribute to a child's poor concentration. They vary from child to child based on their individual experiences and environment. Some of the most popular cases include

· Lack of Interest or Over interest: Children are more inclined to focus on activities that are fascinating and engaging to them. They may struggle to focus if a task does not hold their attention. But on the other side, some children are easily interested and anything new distracts them from what they are already focused on leading them to abandon multiple tasks halfway through.

· Fatigue: Sleep is essential for concentration. Fatigue can hinder a child's ability to concentrate and process information greatly. Here are 4 tips to build a good sleep routine

· Screen Based Distractions: Smartphones, tablets, and video games can constantly draw a child's attention away from other constructive pursuits.

· Stress and Anxiety: Another popular reason for poor concentration can be tension. Children these days go through a lot more than the generations that came before them. Social media, instant communication, peer pressure and societal pressure to do well in life torment more and more children daily. These high levels of anxiety make it challenging to concentrate as the mind may be preoccupied with different worries.

· Health Issues: In some cases even physical health issues, such as allergies or dietary inadequacies, might impair a child's ability to concentrate.

How would you identify if you child has low concentration?

The first step to solving an issue is the identification of the said issue. Children that have poor concentration often show clear signs that one can pick up on. Most commonly you will notice your child has a difficulty staying focused on a task or often moves from one task to another without completing the tasks. A long list of unfinished projects, or a difficulty competing assignments and homework on time is the first warning sign to look out for. Another common sign to notice is frequent daydreaming or if your child often appears to be spaced out. On the other hand, you might also notice your child is easily distracted by multiple different external stimuli. This can be another sign of low concentration where their mind constantly moves from one subject to another. Lastly you might also notice they have a poor academic performance despite the efforts they put in.

Some Tips to Help Improve Concentration Levels:

· Establish a Routine

Concentration may be improved via consistency. Create a predictable atmosphere by establishing a daily schedule that includes specified study or homework periods. Make certain that your youngster has a separate workplace with the required materials. Even something as simple as spending 15 minutes a day practicing daily puzzles can help improve learning and concentration.

Try BrainGymJr, an app that provides new questions daily in English, Math and General Knowledge. All it takes is 15 minutes of focus daily and you can build concentration and intelligence.

· Create a Distraction-Free Zone

Create a distraction-free learning environment for your kid. Keep technological gadgets and other toys/games out of the way during study time. Encourage siblings and other family members to respect your child’s study area and study time.

· Create Multiple Steps And Goals

Encourage your little one to divide more difficult chores into smaller, more doable segments. This makes the workload appear easier and aids with concentration. Teach kids the importance of developing to-do lists and marking off chores as they are accomplished. Start with smaller goals that can be achieved quickly and then work towards larger ones that requite more focus and attention to help build up concentration levels.

For example, on BrainGymJr, there are badges to be won daily, level jumps on performance and certificates on milestones. This encourages daily input, progress and success!

· Take Regular Breaks

Short pauses between study or homework periods might help reduce mental tiredness and improve attention. Use time management strategies such as the Pomodoro method (25 minutes of work followed by a 5-minute break). Encourage physical activity or stretching during pauses to refresh the mind.

· Promote an Active Lifestyle with Healthy Habits

Make sure your kid gets adequate sleep, eats a healthy diet, and exercises often. A healthy body helps to promote a healthy mind. Discuss the significance of staying hydrated and providing nutritious snacks to maintain energy levels. The brain does not work without the body.

· Ensure A Proper Sleep Cycle

Sleep is important for the mind, at a young age proper sleep ensures the correct development of the brain that leads to better concentration levels and overall performance. Ensure you set limits on screen time especially before bed as the blue light emitted by screens can impact sleep patterns and concentration levels. Encourage the reading of a book or some other creative activity before bed.

· Engage in Concentration-Building Activities

Activities like strategy games or solving puzzles such as crosswords, sudoku’s or even artistic pursuits like drawing and painting require sustained focus and can be a fun way to improve concentrations skills.

Concentration is a skill that can be developed and enhanced through practise. You may assist your child to develop greater concentration levels by knowing the elements that impact focus and applying these practical recommendations. Concentration is about developing fundamental life skills that will benefit your child throughout their lives, not simply academic performance.

"The faculty of voluntarily bringing back a wandering attention, over and over again, is the very root of judgment, character, and will." - William James