What are 4 methods to help children improve attention?

You may have experienced the difficulty of staying attentive in class for the whole time, or maybe you have found yourself dozing off in the middle of a meeting. What about when you’re getting instructions but you can’t remember what was being said?

Attention is yet another skill that determines how we learn, as early as birth. Attention, led by awareness, is one of the first steps in our brain’s process of memorization.

We have some tips for helping children improve their attention.

1. Daily physical activity

Daily body movement helps develop sensorimotor skills! Sensorimotor skills, or rapid brain growth relating to reactions, thought, and reflexes are developing from birth to two years old. While physical activity is important at all stages of life, it is crucial during these first two years. Interacting with the child like helping them wiggle their fingers, stack blocks, and sort toys are great examples of skills that help children to be attentive and learning in the present moment. These activities can help kids become more attuned with their bodies.

2. Encourage curiosity

Give kids a variety of activities, flexibility, and the chance to be creative. This will help them engage in tasks and be more actively involved than if they were just passively learning. Help them to form patterns or personal connection with the material. This will encourage thinking about the material beyond the moment it is being taught.

3. Teach kids in steps, or "microtasks"

Bombarding anyone with information is not the best way to get someone to pay attention to material. Rather, give small chunks of information at a time, and have the child repeat it back to you. Or, instruct the child to apply the knowledge in the form of a game or activity. Examples of games that increase attention include ispy, or red-light-green-light. These activities require attention to do well at the game!

4. Mindfulness and Meditation

There are many different types of meditation, but the simplified idea of mindfulness, or centering your thoughts can help greatly with attention. Mindfulness and meditation can help kids reduce stress levels. When kids are less stressed, they may feel fewer negative emotions like sadness, anxiety, anger, and frustration, all of which can take away a child’s focus from the present moment. Breathing exercises and listening exercises can aid in this process by stimulating the prefrontal cortex and increasing focus.

Sources:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/radical-teaching/200904/top-10-list-improve-your-childs-memory

https://eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=74fa09aa-72a6-4661-af67-ba3bbd46d679%40sdc-v-sessmgr02&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=chc.b3051390&db=cat06787a

https://childmind.org/article/how-to-help-kids-with-working-memory-issues/

https://www.simplypsychology.org/sensorimotor.html#:~:text=It%20extends%20from%20birth%20to,(i.e.%2C%20motor%20movements).

https://www.verywellfamily.com/keeping-kids-stress-free-in-camp-with-mindfulness-4136869

https://www.edutopia.org/discussion/7-ways-increase-students-attention-span#:~:text=Include%20Physical%20Activity&text=Taking%20a%20break%20to%20bounce,attention%2Dchallenged%20student%20stay%20focused.