Does your child struggle to stay focused and concentrate?

 

These child led ideas may be just what you’re looking for!

 

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Everyone learns differently, and the ways in which we can concentrate and stay focused vary depending on our learning style. Understanding exactly how your child learns will help in incorporating tools and ideas to help them stay focused and improve concentration.  What kind of learner is your child? describes the different types of learning.

 

 

The age of ADD and ADHD

Let’s face it. In the age where children and even adults are commonly diagnosed with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) at am alarming rate, there must be something that can help to get people to focus and concentrate in school and at work.  There are many prescription medications that claim to help with focus and concentration, but at what risk to your overall health and well being?  Luckily, there are other ways to get similar results that are fairly cheap, easy and fun; all at the same time!

 

 

 

 

Getting focused and staying focused is not always an easy task for children and adults alike.  Some days it may easier than others to get focused and concentrate on the tasks of the day.  It does in no way mean that there is something wrong; most times it is just that other outside influences may be distracting and not allowing us to focus and concentrate as well as we need to.

 

Sometimes your child may just need to do a few simple tasks BEFORE they begin their day, or they may need to take a break during working so that they can regain focus and concentration.  These 5 activities that are listed in below can easily be done in a classroom or home school setting.  Many of these activities can also be done by adults, as every once in awhile we also need to refocus to complete our daily tasks as well.  The activities are children and adult friendly!

 

4 child led ways to get your child to focus and concentrate

 

1. YOGA

Yoga is a very beneficial and successful way to get a child focused and even increase concentration.  I used Yoga poses in my classroom very often when I was a classroom teacher; at least two to three times per week.  We would do a few select poses before we began our two hour Montessori work time, and I saw great results from using Yoga.  If you would like to know more about how I incorporated Yoga in my classroom, click here.  There are many options for using Yoga in the classroom. Books, pose cards, music recordings, etc. Have fun with it and follow the lead of the children!

SUGGESTIONS:

Learn With Yoga ABC Cards for Kids, Set of 52

 

 

 

 

2. PRACTICE AND ENGAGE IN MINDFULNESS

Mindfulness is a practice of noticing what is happening in the present moment.  Mindfulness makes you aware of your surroundings and can help in calming anxious or frustrated feelings, as well as help with focus and concentration.  It can be a way of recognizing your feelings and dealing with them in appropriate ways.  I was lucky to find a great resource for mindfulness, and used it to introduce the practices into my classroom.  The children  had really received it well, and it was fun to find more mindfulness activities to add to the classroom routine.  To learn more about mindfulness and the Mindful Schools movement, please go to their website Mindful Schools for more information.

Example of a lesson from Mindful Schools:

 

 

 

SUGGESTIONS:

Sitting Still Like a Frog, Mindfulness Exercises for Kids(and their parents)

 

Mindful Movements, Ten Exercises for Well-Being Book with DVD

 

 

3. PRACTICE BRAIN GYM EXERCISES

I first learned about Brain Gym exercises about eight years ago.  I was working at a Montessori school and for one of our Teacher Training In-Service days, we had a Brain Gym workshop.  A Brain Gym professional consultant taught us some exercises to get the children to get their brains moving & awake and ready for the day ahead.  We learned twenty six movements and how to apply them along with proper techniques.  For more information about the techniques, process, and strategies go to the Brain Gym website.

SUGGESTIONS:

I have used a few of the Brain Gym products in my classroom in the past and had great results.  The official website from the creators of Brain Gym; Paul and Gail Dennison, have a great assortment of activities, books, and music to fit your needs.  My favorites are the Wooden Lazy 8 Track and The Brain Gym Activity Cards

I also found and used a similar product to the Brain Gym activity cards.  They are by Primary Class, and can be found here.  I would pick two or three cards to do with my class each morning or before lunch.  They really enjoyed these cards and it was a good way to add more variety into our routine.

 

 

 

4. PRACTICE AND ENGAGE IN MEDITATION

I  have found that there are so many positive benefits of meditation.  It can help to reduce stress and fosters clear thinking.  It involves clearing the mind and peacefully coming into a deep rest where you are basically not doing or thinking of anything.  It is like a sleep for your brain, in that it is at peace.  Meditation can be done with or without music, just as long as you clear your brain.  This one may be a little difficult to incorporate for the younger children at first, but with practice, I will be very beneficial for them. A good way to get children involved with any new activity is with a story or book, as literature tends to capture their attention.

SUGGESTIONS:

Peaceful Piggy Meditation

 

 

What to take from this

These are just a few ideas on child led activities to get children to focus and concentrate. All of the activities and information listed above should be done with caution and with proper research.  Please follow any instructions or follow any listed guidelines for any of the products.  I have first hand knowledge of how these activities have worked in my classroom of preschool aged children in the past, and the results were always great and beneficial.  There are many benefits to incorporating these activities, and if you have a child that needs assistance in getting focused and needing to concentrate, it is definitely worth giving these ideas a try!

 

If you have any additional ideas or activities you have found worked with children for focus and concentration, please share them in the comments! I would love to hear what works for you and your child (ren)!

 

 

 

Namaste!

 

 

Be Mindful!

 

 

Relax your brain!

 

 

Wake your brain up!

 

 

Enjoy!

Anitra J.