Aligning study habits with attention spans

Concentration depends on several factors:

• Interest in the task
• Ability to do the task
• Mood
• Energy level
• Environment
• Etc.

First, identify the factors that influence your child’s concentration. You can then decide how to improve the situation. For example, low mood, fatigue, and restlessness can all be remedied by adopting healthy habits. Try to encourage your child to do the following:

• Get enough sleep
• Limit screen time
• Exercise every day
• Eat well
• Learn breathing techniques
• Etc.

If your child is easily distracted, it may be useful to implement study strategies adapted to their needs and interests.

1. Divide their work into smaller tasks

It’s easier to stay focused for a few minutes than for an entire hour. If your child has a short attention span, try dividing their work into smaller tasks. You can use one of the following tools to keep them on track:

• A timer
• An hourglass
• A visual clock
• A Mood Thermometer,
• Etc.

At the end of each interval of work, your child can have a short break to do something fun:

• Listen and dance to their favourite song
• Read two pages of their favourite book
• Run around the table twice
• Lie on the floor and relax for two minutes
• Etc.

Once the break is over, your child can return to their task or move on to the next one, switching between the two.

2. Ask them to explain their work

When your child finds a task long, complicated, or boring, they’re more easily distracted. To help them stay focused and motivated, ask them to explain their thought process or to summarize the rule they’re trying to apply. Talking about their assignment will help them retain the information and avoid making sloppy mistakes.

Slowly, as your child makes progress, you can encourage them to have these conversations alone, in their head. It’s a great concentration technique that can be used anywhere and anytime.