It's a new school year, and you want your child to succeed. But sometimes, focusing can be a challenge. Don't worry, there are ways to help your child focus better! Here are three things you can try: Help your child set realistic goals, use assistive tools to practise focus, and incorporate focus-building games into their playtime.
In general, children have shorter attention spans than grown-ups, and the younger they are, the shorter their focus lasts. Little ones between 2 and 6 can usually focus for about 2 to 10 minutes. Children between 7 and 10 can focus for about 15 to 20 minutes, while those between 10 and 12 can usually focus for about 25 minutes. Teenagers over 12 can typically focus for about 30 minutes. So, it's important for parents to understand how long their children can focus and set goals that are achievable within those timeframes. It's also helpful to make sure there aren't too many distractions around so they can stay focused on learning.
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Setting Goals
According to Dr Lien, Yunn-Wen, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, National Taiwan University, passive challenges, overly difficult or overly simple challenges, excessive visual and auditory stimulation, and emotions can all affect a child's concentration.(1)
When setting goals with your child, ensure they are clear and specific. Goals should be realistic and achievable. For instance, a vague instruction like ‘read this book’ might prompt children to skim through it thinking they've finished. This often means miss out on truly absorbing the information or learning new words, wasting their reading time.
Instead, try framing the goal as ‘read this book carefully, then summarise the story and write down five new words.’ This approach clarifies expectations and provides a concrete objective for your child to aim for.
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Using assistive tools
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Australia found that a brief 5-minute break can help restore concentration. In this study, published in the journal Educational and Developmental Psychologist, 72 Australian university students first completed a 20-minute pre-test that involved difficult mental mathematics problems under time pressure. This was done to deplete the students' attention and cognitive resources.
The participants were then divided into three groups. One group had no break and proceeded straight to a short lesson on mental multiplication of two-digit numbers. The second group took a 5-minute break, with a countdown timer displayed on the computer screen. The third group also had a 5-minute break, but they watched a calming video of a peaceful rainforest walk.
When the researchers compared the results across the three groups, they found that the students who had taken breaks, whether with the timer or the nature video, were able to solve more problems correctly compared to the group that had no break.(2) This suggests that even short breaks can help improve cognitive performance on demanding mental tasks by providing an opportunity to rest and recharge.
To help your children plan their focused study time, you might want to try the ‘Pomodoro Technique.’ This method breaks work into five simple steps:
- Identify the task or goal they need to accomplish.
- Set a timer based on their attention span, usually around 15 to 25 minutes.
- Focus on the task until the timer goes off, completing one ‘Pomodoro.’
- Take a short break for 3 to 5 minutes.
- After finishing four ‘Pomodoros,’ take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes.
Many apps now help children follow the "Pomodoro Technique" by timing their work while minimizing distractions from videos or games on their phones. These apps also help integrate short-term and long-term goals, making it easier for parents and children to track daily tasks and overall progress, for better adjustments to schedules and plans.
Forest: A great option for primary school students. It makes time management fun by letting them ‘grow trees.’ When you set a 30-minute work timer, the screen displays an animation of a tree growing. If they get distracted and use their phone, the tree will wither. The app tracks the growth of each tree, and whether they can create a lush forest depends on their focus! Plus, there’s a Chrome extension available for desktop use.
Tide – Sleep & Meditation: This app is perfect for middle school students and adults. Along with the basic Pomodoro timer, it offers features like daily inspirational quotes, nature sounds, meditation exercises, and sleep stories. By blending work, relaxation, and mindfulness, it provides a well-rounded experience for users. Plus, there’s a Chrome extension available for desktop use.
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Focus-building games at home
Playing games with your children not only strengthens your bond but also helps improve their focus. Here are some simple activities parents can try with their kids:
Head-Knees-Shoulders Game: Have your child follow your instructions to touch different body parts, like their head, shoulders, and knees.
Memory Game: Use cards to help your child remember patterns and then try to match them after flipping them over.
Puzzles: Work together to complete puzzles, which boosts focus, spatial awareness, and logical thinking.
Mindfulness Practice: Engage in mindfulness exercises with your child, practicing breathing techniques and simple meditation to enhance focus and reduce stress.
By starting today to help your child enhance their concentration, you’re not only boosting their learning effectiveness but also laying the foundation for a healthier lifestyle and future pursuits!
- <改變教學，抓回學生注意力>，親子天下，2008。
- Rest breaks aid directed attention and learning, Paul Ginns, 2023.