How to Improve Attention Spans in Children
Kids have never exactly been famed for their attention spans, but the situation is only getting worse. Experts believe that childhood attention has been all but non-existent since the pandemic years. In fact, 84% of primary and preschool teachers have noticed a negative change.Â
Frustratingly, there’s no clear reason for this, though theories include the lasting impact of screen-based learning and going so long without routine. The impact of technologies like mobile phones has also likely played a large part. Worryingly, all of this has led one in five teachers to alter their approaches by reducing each activity to last no longer than ten minutes.
While this is a good sign that shows teachers are trying to adapt, there are also some fears that this teaching-based switch could lead to even shorter attention spans in the future. It certainly isn’t serving to address this growing problem head-on.
That’s why some teachers and parents are taking a different approach and are actually attempting to improve childhood attention spans in the following key ways.
# 1 – Practicing Concentration
When teachers address shortening attention spans by slicing their lessons in half, they make it so that children never get any practice in concentrating for longer periods. As well as failing to address the problem, this can prevent things from ever improving.
That’s because, like any skill, attention is something we learn and can develop in a variety of ways. Of course, it’s important to remember that younger children have naturally shorter attention spans, and pushing that point could lead to more issues than it solves. But, if you’re working per the expected attention span for your child’s age range, there are plenty of ways to practice this skill.
Reading is perhaps the most obvious and beneficial of these, as encouraging even ten-minute daily reading sessions can significantly strengthen the parts of the brain that are responsible for concentration and focus. Equally, there are plenty of games that can help your child practice concentration without it feeling like a chore. Adding options like chess, crossword puzzles, and jigsaws to your daily to-do list could have a transformative impact on attention overall.
# 2 – Removing Distractions
The sheer amount of devices all around us has played an undeniable part in attention span reduction. Even if kids do sit down to read during their spare time, they often do so to the backdrop of a television show, or the lure of a waiting tablet. As well as reducing the quality of learning they can experience, these distractions can reduce the amount of time a child is willing to sit down and focus. And that’s no good for anyone.
Logically, removing distractions is key to getting your child’s attention span back on track. A great way to do this is to simply set up dedicated areas for tasks like reading, away from typical device-heavy parts of your house. The dining table or kitchen is a great example of this, as it allows your child to step away and focus on the task at hand. Setting a clear no-screens before reading/homework rule can work well too. You may receive some pushback initially, but you should soon find that your child’s attention span starts improving on its own.
# 3 – Learning Through Play
Sometimes, getting children with short attention spans to sit down and focus can feel like fighting a losing battle. After all, not only will their attention span probably see them struggling to cooperate, but they may also resist your efforts under the assumption that they don’t possess these skills. Of course, you know that they simply need to develop their attention span, so how can you encourage them to get involved?
For younger children, especially, it pays to focus on fun and engaging ways to learn. Your child is far less likely to resist this approach, as they’ll never realize that they’re actually putting in work. Yet, their attention span will still gradually start to improve, and when that happens, it will automatically make way for more dedicated learning.
Options like the attention-based games we’ve already mentioned would work well for this. Tasks like acting out parts from a book you’re reading, or even drawing pictures about things you’re learning could all help too.
# 4 – Doubling Down on Physical Activity
Though it might seem counterintuitive to bum-on-seat learning, evidence suggests that taking regular breaks for physical activity can help harness concentration in a major way. This is largely because getting moving increases blood flow to the brain and fires up all-important neurons. This is possible with just twenty minutes of exercise a day and can be especially beneficial if that exercise happens outside.
It’s worth breaking up your lessons with at least a few physical sessions, especially if kids get distracted. Little brain breaks and burning off some energy is super helpful and ensures they return to whatever they’re focussing on feeling happier, and with full concentration.
# 5 – Focus on Your Attention
It isn’t only childhood attention spans that have taken a hit in recent years —adult attention spans are also down to just 8 seconds, and this could also be having an impact on childhood learning.Â
As well as seeing us setting a pretty bad example, our own shrinking attention could prove damaging by impacting our patience and ability to persevere with the learning our children resist. For instance, you might try a couple of times to get your child to read at home and then simply give up when you don’t initially succeed.
Developing your attention span using tips similar to the ones in this article makes it far more likely that you’ll be able to lead by the right example and also that you’ll preserve until your child’s attention span starts soaring.
Are childhood attention spans really as doomed as we’re led to believe? They don’t have to be if you address the issue in these ways.
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