How to Focus on Focus

As we have looked at the topic of distraction and focus over the last few weeks, I am sure many have asked the question, what can I do for my kids? How can I help them develop the important skill of focus? Here are just a few tips on teaching and developing focus: 

• Distraction Free Space: Create a place where your child can study and engage in learning without being surrounded by distractions. Even if they need a tech device to do the work, there are numerous ways to remove the distractions so that they can learn to focus.
• Model It: Your children will never develop the skills and work at improving their ability to focus if they watch us as adults be distracted easily. Put the cell phone away when having dinner or when your child comes to talk with you.
• Be Intentional: As parents we must be intentional in teaching our kids how to focus in today’s world. There are many articles, books, websites, apps, even games that help teach students how to focus.
• Chunk It: Help your child learn to achieve large goals by breaking them up into smaller ones. Have them chunk the work into smaller steps and then have them take a break when they have completed them.
• Rest, Sleep, Play: As human beings our children need time to rest, they need to get an appropriate amount of sleep, and they need to have the opportunity to play. Without these the ability to focus diminishes greatly.