Getting a child to sit down and focus is not an easy task. Parents struggle with children when they get distracted easily, fidget a lot, constantly lose things and keep things unorganized. It worries them when they do not follow instructions and has trouble with school work and maintaining friendships. During situations like these, it is better to understand the problem and solve it instead of forcefully demanding them to concentrate. Children, inherently, are active, curious, and relentlessly moving around. It makes them hard to focus on a single task for a long time. The problem can be fixed by understanding its root cause and then finding a solution. Five major causes of concentration problems in children are
Hard Tasks
When children find a task hard, they try to avoid doing it. The difficulty of a task depends upon the child’s age, which is why some games and toys have age brackets. An easy solution for this is to break down the hard task into smaller and easier ones. This way, the child will be interested in completing one task after another without anxiety.
Distractions
When a child is made to sit down, their curious mind will wander looking for distractions. It could be television, mobile phone or people walking outside. For example, even a small toy lying across the room can distract your child while doing his homework. So it is best to remove anything that could possibly catch his attention.
Too Little Attention
Children who do not get enough attention from parents try to earn it through negative actions which include not finishing a task or not concentrating on something. Ensure that you take out time from your busy schedule to spend some quality time and give them the attention they deserve. This will motivate your child to do what is expected of them and strengthen your bond.
Wrong Diet
Intake of wrong food items, skipping meals and malnutrition can lead to concentration problems in children. Find time to have breakfast regularly and replace junk food with healthy snacks. While whole-grain bread, milk, etc relaxes the body, caffeine-rich beverages cause sleeplessness. Provide a balanced diet for your child on a regular basis and make him understand that a healthy mind requires a healthy diet.
Lack of Sleep
Children and adults need regular sound sleep to perform their best. A child needs 8 to 12 hours of sleep a day, depending on his or her age. While a good night’s sleep can do wonders to the body and mind, lack of sleep can affect concentration and cause long-lasting health hazards. Maintain a fine sleeping pattern for your child and do not allow them to stay up too late at night.
“Concentration is the secret of strength”
One of the top CBSE schools in the country, Winmore Academy, strives to address issues faced by students, rectify them with effective strategies and maximize their potential. Along with knowledge and wisdom, concentration and mental toughness go a long way in creating success.