It is normal for children to lose interest quickly in something and shift their attention to something else. However, attention span becomes a concern for parents when it adversely starts impacting their learning curve, academic grades, homework or performance in extra-curricular activities.
If your child is also struggling with poor attention span, then here are some ways to increase it:
- Understand the Root Cause
Try to find out what are the reasons for your child’s low attention span. Do they get tired easily? Do they undertake an activity on an empty stomach? Is there a particular thing that distracts them often? Do they lack your attention? Are they disturbed for some reason?
This will help you to deal with the issue with more clarity.
- Reduce Screen Time
While the COVID-19 pandemic had compelled children to do everything digitally, now there is no such compulsion. It has been almost a year since schools and activity centres are operating physically.
Various studies suggest that increased screen time can lead to attention problems in children. So, if your child is still hooked to digital gadgets, the screen time could be affecting their concentration. Limit their screen time. You can follow the Indian Academy of Paediatrics’ age-wise guidelines for permissible daily screen time in children.
- Discover the Learning Style
Sometimes, poor attention span could be simply because your child is not able to adapt to a particular learning style. Take this for example. When we consume content, some of us prefer reading while others prefer listening or watching. It is the same case with children.
Some children may respond better to visual and interactive, game-based learning. Some may comprehend the concepts better from application-based learning. Find out what learning style works best for your child.
- Make Tasks Smaller and Simpler
If you expect your child to learn 10 sentences or solve 20 math problems at a time, it is natural for them to lose their attention. They may feel overwhelmed and their brains may get stuck from absorbing any further information.
Break down the tasks from them. Let them learn two sentences or solve two math sums, and then move on to the next two. If you are giving them instructions to do an activity, give them short or fewer instructions.
Pay Attention to Diet
Foods such as almonds, green leafy vegetables, eggs, pumpkin seeds, and berries are known to boost brain power. Make sure to include these foods in your children’s daily diet.
Play Memory Games
There are plenty of fun games that target at improving children’s memory and concentration. You will find many such games on e-commerce sites and other useful resources on YouTube.
In case these tips do not give effective results, you may want to consider enrolling your children in professional mind and memory classes. Lastly, do remember to appreciate your children for putting their effort in whatever they do. Do not compare them with anyone because each child is differently unique.
