Many children struggle with the ability to remain focused on a given task – leaving parents frustrated and unsure what to do.
In fact, when a child is told to “do their homework” with no other guidelines – many moms become discouraged when they check on their child and discover them playing with toys or distracted with their iPads.
But instead of throwing in the towel and giving up, moms have learned a few tricks to keep their little ones focused on the current task.
Here are a few ideas you can incorporate into your household.
Set Realistic Goals
When you assign your child a task, make sure you give them a reasonable amount of time to complete it, but not too long.
Little ones especially do not have a long attention span…
… and if you force them to do something for 30-40 minutes – OF COURSE they are going to get distracted!
Instead, break up larger tasks into smaller goals.
Instead of telling a child to “clean their room” assign something smaller like “pick up the clothes in your room and put them away” or “let’s put away your books.”
This makes tasks doable, not daunting.
Designated Spaces
Think about how much you need a designated workspace to get things done – well this rings true even more for your child!
Give them a designated area to do their homework to help minimize distractions.
A quiet space without TV and noisy chatter is best so they have space to concentrate and think.
And before they start, make sure they have had their snack and used the bathroom so their stomachs aren’t growling and bladders aren’t bursting.
Set A Timer
Children don’t always have the best sense of time which is why a timer can help them stay focused.
If you want your child to brush their teeth, set a timer in the bathroom to show them how long they need to keep brushing.
Or, if you’re wanting them to get ready for bed, set a timer to help them manage their time, even setting a simple kitchen timer to go off in 15 minutes will help them know once the timer goes off, it’s time for bed.
This can alleviate fighting at bedtime for just “10 more minutes” of play.
Allow For Breaks
Many moms who are teaching their children at home for the first time are learning quickly just how important breaks are!
Kids are not machines, and they can’t sit still for hours at a time and be expected to learn information.
Instead, schedule plenty of 15-minute (or even longer) breaks in your child’s schedule.
Give them space to run around outside or have a snack.
If a child has breaks throughout their day, they’ll be able to focus and concentrate better.
Teaching your child how to focus and concentrate on the task at hand is a skill that will serve them well as they grow older.
If they can learn at a young age how to balance their time, break up larger tasks into smaller steps, and take breaks throughout the day, they’re well on their way to learning how to balance work and play in a healthy way!
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