Do you ever find yourself frustrated with a child who isn’t paying attention to what you say, or what they are supposed to be doing? Maybe they start something but easily get distracted? These are common concerns and challenges for parents, especially in today’s world where it’s much easier for children and teens to get distracted and unfocused.
Many adults worry that technology plays a role in worsening attention and focus for kids, and that’s certainly partly true. However, technology can play a role in supporting focus and task completion as well. The key is teaching kids how to make their devices and apps work for them, instead of against them.
My child is smart but can’t focus
One of the biggest frustrations parents experience is knowing their child is capable of something, but isn’t achieving or following through because they don’t stay focused on the task at hand. It’s important to know that intelligence is made up of many different aspects of brain function.
The ability to focus and attend to something is one part of a set of cognitive skills called “executive functions”. It is entirely possible for a child to be intelligent or “smart” in many areas, but have weaker focus and attention.
It’s also important to remember that all kids (and adults) struggle with focus and attention at various times, especially when the task is uninteresting, overly difficult, or monotonous. In other words, a child struggling with focus and attention doesn’t mean they lack intelligence. This is true for all children, even if they have been diagnosed with a condition such as ADHD. Focus and concentration are skills that can be strengthened in all of us.
Does technology affect children’s focus?
As digital devices and media have taken over almost every aspect of our daily lives, many people are concerned about the impact this has on children and teens. Attention and focus are specific concerns, as many parents and teachers observe that kids today have a much harder time focusing on things at home and in school.
Research done so far indicates that increased use of devices and digital media, specifically social media apps, can have a detrimental effect on attention span and focusing abilities for children and adolescents.
However, it’s important to note that use of technology doesn’t automatically equate to poor attention and concentration skills, especially when appropriate limits are in place and children are engaging in other developmentally-appropriate activities that don’t involve screens.
Avoid constant media multitasking
Media multitasking seems to be one of the most problematic issues for reducing attention and focus in children (and adults). It simply means using multiple devices or apps at the same time, including the constant switching between them. Common examples include watching a TV show while scrolling on social media and texting with friends.
Research shows that a current trend among children and teens is that they are increasingly engaging in media multitasking. This can have negative consequences for their ability to pay attention and focus, as it essentially trains their brains to not pay attention to anything for an extended period of time!
Here are some specific tips for reducing media multitasking so you can strengthen your child’s focusing capabilities.
- Don’t leave the television or other media on in the background during tasks that require focus and concentration.
- If your child is playing a video game or watching television, have them turn their phone/other devices off or put them in the other room.
- When talking on the phone, focus. Do not engage in responding to texts, surfing the web, watching TV, etc. at the same time.
- Be intentional about having periods of time during the day when the focus is on a non-electronic task and devices are not being used. This includes times spent eating meals, doing homework, reading for pleasure, completing self-care tasks, etc.
How can I help my child focus better?
There are many things that can be done to support the development and improvement of attention and concentration skills in children and teens. Here are some general things to implement:
1. Make sure your child is getting physical activity throughout the day.
Movement and exercise support the development of a child’s brain, and allow the frontal lobe of the brain (which manages our attention system) to form strong connections within the brain.
2. Encourage your child to spend time outdoors in nature regularly.
The sunshine, fresh air, movement, and slower pace of time outside all support better brain development and stronger attention skills
3. Focus on feeding your child foods that support healthy brain function.
This includes plenty of protein, fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates. Limiting highly processed foods filled with sugar and chemicals is important to support your child’s brain development (and ability to focus). A snack of apple slices with nut butter and a glass of water will better support attention and focus than a snack of donuts and juice.
4. Make sure your child gets to bed on time and sleeps through the night.
A good night’s sleep is critical for allowing your child to focus during the day.
Removing devices from the bedroom at night helps ensure a good night’s sleep without distractions from notifications, texts, games, etc.
5. Limit screen time as appropriate for your child’s age and developmental level.
Have your child take breaks from devices every 30 minutes or so. Use parental controls to support implementing the plan you make with your children around overall time limits, apps they’re using, and more. Qustodio is the app I use and recommend for parents looking for a simple effective solution.
6. Manage your own device and tech use
Your own modeling also makes a big difference! Take a conscious effort to manage your own technology use in a way that demonstrates a brain-supportive approach for your children. This means making sure you’re taking breaks, avoiding device distractions, moving your body, etc. throughout the day.
Tips to help children focus on homework
Homework time can be particularly challenging for students and parents, especially when kids have been in school all day long. There are some strategies parents can implement to support focus during homework time and strike a balance between learning and technology.
- Provide breaks for movement during a longer homework session. Set a timer to take a break every 10 to 20 minutes (depending on the age and needs of your child). The breaks should involve movement such as stretching, walking, jumping jacks, running outside, etc.
- Avoid media multitasking during homework time. Turn off the television, remove devices not being used for homework, and shut down distracting apps during homework time if necessary. Qustodio allows you to restrict access to certain apps during specific periods, letting you create a distraction-free environment.
- Use apps like Focus Keeper to stay on track with the task at hand. These visual timer apps can support motivation and structure for less exciting and non-preferred tasks.
- Create a comfortable physical environment that is free of excessive distractions. Avoid excessive background noise, allow your child to work in a position that is comfortable for them (ex: standing or lying on the floor is just fine), and limit other distractions such as people walking in and out or talking in the space where they are working.
Struggles with focus and attention are an increasingly common issue for children and teens. Parents are wise to be aware of this, and take the steps to support these issues for kids before they reach young adulthood. Some simple steps, especially around healthy device use, can make a big difference!
