How to Help Your Child Focus

When your child focuses during class work and homework, they will cut their study time in half. When their focus is elsewhere, the concentration is not there and homework can take much longer. Following are some tips on helping you help your child focus.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. TURN OFF THE COMPUTER, PHONE, RADIO AND TELEVISION SET. These things can ruin concentration. When your child is able to concentrate, their homework time will be cut close to half the time that it normally does.

2. FOCUS CAN BE RUINED IF THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT SOMETHING. If your child is worried about a test that needs to be signed, or whether they will have friends or not... they will not be able to focus on the task at hand. Tell them to ask their mind to worry about it later. Ask them to write the worry down on a piece of paper and tell them to say to themselves, "this worry is for later." This may help them concentrate on the task at hand. (It is important for them to think about that worry later)

3. IF THEIR MIND STARTS TO GO TO ANOTHER PLACE; HAVE THEM BRING IT BACK. Tell them that each time they start to focus on something else in class, tell them to bring themselves back. Draw the word "Focus" on a piece of paper in bright colors and stick it on a folder in front of them. That may grab their attention and help them to focus in class.

4. HAVE THEM THINK OF LEARNING AS A GUESSING GAME. Ask them to try to figure out what the teacher is going to say next before they say it. This may keep them focused on what the teacher is saying class and become in tune to the lesson.

5. MAKE SURE YOU ARE KEEPING AN EYE ON NUTRITION. Have you ever felt tired around 2:00 after eating a lunch at McDonald's? Well, imagine if you are giving your child junk food for lunch...The same affect will be happening to them and they will not be able to focus. Make sure they are eating breakfast and it is healthy as well.

6. MAKE SURE THEY ARE HEALTHY ON THE INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE. If your child isn't feeling well both physically and emotionally, they will not be able to focus on anything except for how they are feeling. Make sure you have constant communication with them, preferably at the dinner table!

Tips & Warnings

• Many parents are concerned that their child may have ADHD or ADD. Look at the way your child learns...it could be that your child is a kinesthetic learner meaning they need to learn in a different way from other children. For example, instead of learning by hearing or seeing, they need to be hands on and active during the lesson. Of course, it is a family's decision on what the next course of action should be, but always consult your physician and ask your child's teacher about what they observe in class.