Children in general tend to be easily distracted, even if they don’t have any cognitive disorders like ADHD or autism.
While some may assume to blame smartphones and tablets as the main cause, there may actually be dozens of different factors that can result in a child being unable to focus on their work.
Sound, smells, temperature, and even bright lights can be a constant source of distraction for kids who may be extra sensitive to environmental stimuli.
But sometimes the cause can be internal, too, like stress, anxiety, depression.
Your kids could also have a habit of daydreaming, which may point to other underlying conditions that need to be addressed.
If your child is having trouble doing their homework, finishing their chores or just holding down a simple conversation, here are some steps you can take to have them super-focused and productive in no time.
6 Tips to Help Your Easily Distracted Child
Prepare a Schedule
Some children can greatly benefit from having a consistent schedule. This way they won’t be so overwhelmed at the thought of having to do so much.
Separating their responsibilities and task into neat snippets of time throughout the day can take some of this pressure of.
Especially if it helps them know what exactly is expected of them at a given hour of the day.
You can take it a step further by involving your child in the process.
If you want to instill some good adult life skills, let your child dictate how they would rather spend their time. Within limits, of course.
If there’s screen time allocated for them, make sure they don’t demand a full two hours or more.
Try to limit their screen time to about 10 to 20 minutes.
Allow Plenty of Breaks
Expanding on the schedule advice, you should ideally allow plenty of breaks in between tasks.
If your child has about two hours of time for homework, make sure they get at least 3 to 5 minute breaks every 15 to 20 minutes of doing their assignments.
This prevents boredom, burn out and allows your child to actually be more productive.
When we take short breaks during long tasks, our brain gets a chance to rest and formulate new ideas and solutions.
And when it comes to mentally taxing subjects like Mathematics, taking breaks can actually help your child work better and faster than if they spent the entire time just staring at their exercise books.
Remove Electronics
One of the main sources of distraction in this day and age is, of course, electronic devices.
While this used to primarily involve the television and computer games, smartphones and tablets have become all the rage.
Everywhere you look, you’ll likely see a child as old as 10 years old owning their own smartphones or using their parents’. It’s basically the norm at this point.
While phones have become an easy form of entertainment, it can actually worsen attention problems for children.
According to a study, excessive screen time has been attributed to ADHD like symptoms in pre-schoolers.
So, try to wean off your kids from their smart devices, especially if they the source of their distraction is electronic devices.
A good rule of thumb for all new parents out there is to avoid teaching your kids to become dependent on electronic devices.
It will save you a lot of trouble in the future.
Get A Stress Toy
Stress toys, or fidget toys are a great companion for easily distracted children. Especially if the cause of your child’s distraction is anxiety.
Anecdotal evidence points to some promising effects of fidget toys in emotional regulation and stress reduction.
So, if your child experiences a lot of stress prior or during tasks like homework, then a fidget toy may help them.
Some good fidget toys include fidget spinners, stress balls, slime and other small objects that they can play with while they work.
Of course, not every child responds positively to these stress toys. So, it’s an option that will involve a lot of trial and error.
Children with ADHD, for instance, may actually find fidget toys more distracting. So it’s worth to keep this bit of information in mind.
Music Therapy
There are a thousand and one uses for music, and not just for entertainment.
Music has been used to help fight stress and depression, boost energy, and even reduce pain.
However, when it comes to attention problems, you may not want to choose any old playlist for your child.
You’ve probably heard of white noise, the monotone, often nature-based sounds that people play to help them go to sleep.
But did you know that there is also brown noise, pink noise and even black noise?
These sounds each have their own properties that can benefit your cognitive processing in various ways.
While not scientifically proven, anecdotal evidence points to some benefit of colour noises, specifically brown noise, in helping silence internal dialogues. Which is a common symptom in those with ADHD.
Try Some Supplements
While not a cure-all, some supplements, also called nootropics, have been known to greatly boost attention. Examples include gingko biloba, fish oil and ashwaghanda.
However, do consult a physician, especially if your child is taking any other medication.
Speaking of medication, supplements can be a great alternative for parents who may not want their kids to be put on pills. Or those who can’t afford such medications for their kids.
Moreover, those kinds of attention-boosting drugs tend to result in side effects and withdrawal symptoms.
These may include headaches, depression, insomnia and moodswings. So, it’s best to try some alternative medicine first.
Restoring Focus and Productivity
Your child may not get anything done if they’re distracted all the time.
They may have unfinished homework and may get into trouble at school.
They may even end up not completing their chores, even if it’s as simple as cleaning their rooms.
If all else fails, you can always have a sit down with your little one in order to understand why they’re so easily distracted.
Sometimes it may not even be the environment that’s the cause but other troubles they may be hiding from you.
But in general, distracted kids aren’t necessarily an alarming cause for concern, but they do require their parents’ attention.
All you need to do is help them rediscover their focus and enjoyment, and they’ll be soon be able to address distractions in their lives without your help.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
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