Ways to Help Your Child Focus and Pay Attention

The other day one of our parents and were discussing how their child focuses so well when it a smaller class. He tends to not concentrate as well in larger classes with more children. I thought that this was a great opportunity to bring this awareness to his child. I suggested that he share this valuable information with his child. The step in resolving a challenge is being aware that there is a challenge.

Here are 7 Simple Tips to help your children focus and pay attention.

These simple tips will help a child who is distracted, inattentive, having problems focusing and paying attention; and useful in helping our children in a world that is becoming more and more distracting.

1. Keep a calm home environment. This means not yelling at your child if he doesn't mind you or settle down to do his homework. Of course every parent can be pushed to the extreme and "loses it" occasionally. Every parent yells or screams at a child once in awhile. If this happens, simply apologize to your child and reassure him that you love him, while explaining that his behavior is sometimes frustrating.
2. Limit media distractions in your home. Many children are not as good at filtering out noise as adults are. This means that having the television on while your child is trying to do her homework may interfere with her ability to concentrate. Limit your child to one hour of "screen time" per day. This means limiting television, electronic games and other forms of eye-candy. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that early exposure to television is associated with ADHD in children. They also recommend that parents not put a television set in the child's room, and that you keep the TV turned off when you are not watching a specific program.
3. Have your child's vision and hearing tested. If your child suddenly starts to have trouble at school, take him to the pediatrician for a vision and hearing test. Sometimes a child is not able to express that he is having trouble seeing or hearing clearly. Several times in my experience, a child's teacher thought he might have ADHD, when the real problem was nearsightedness.
4. Stay positive in your child's presence. Don't argue with your spouse or partner when your children are around. Surprisingly, children worry about their parents just as much as their parents worry about them. Hearing parents argue or even talk in loud voices can be scary to a child. Even if the arguments are not serious, to a child's vivid imagination arguments might signify that his parents are headed for a divorce. Tell your child only the good things in your life, and keep the arguments for when the child is not present. Even if your child is in the other room, he can still hear your tone of voice and pick up on angry feelings. To air out differences, parents should think about having lunch together or taking a walk alone to clear the air.
5. Be "in the moment" with you child at least once every day. Have a few minutes each day when you can focus 100% of your attention on your child: read her a book, play a short board game, or make a drawing or a painting together. If you prefer outdoor games, go to the park and play basketball or tennis with your child.
6. Have clear rules and enforce them consistently. Parents should come to agreement about the rules concerning their child, and back each other up. Being on the same page about discipline is especially crucial if a child is having trouble focusing. When parents ask me about a good book on discipline, I always recommend "Dad's Toolbox for Better Parenting" by Dave Kovar. His methods are simple and are consistent with what I use in my classes, especially with younger children.
7. Enroll your child in a sport to channel his extra energy. If your child is "hyper," he may need more outlets for his energy. In addition to giving kids with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, all of the physical benefits of exercise, including improved cardiovascular health and better strength and flexibility, karate might also lessen ADHD symptoms, such as impulsiveness and hyperactivity. It can also provide positive role models for children with ADHD and provide opportunities for peer interaction.
   
   John Ratey, M.D, the author of "Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain" tells ADDitude magazine that regular exercise, like karate, can turn on a child's attention system -- consisting of the cerebellum, frontal cortex and limbic system -- which can affect the parts of the brain responsible for sequencing, prioritizing, working memory and sustaining attention. According to Ratey, exercise does this by increasing the brain's dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. These brain chemicals can positively affect the attention system's ability to stay regular and consistent, which can increase alertness in children with ADHD.

This blog is part of Peter Liciaga's effort to promote the Ultimate Black Belt Test Program ( http://www.ultimateblackbelttest.com), which is an undertaking of The 100. (http://www.the100.us/), and a part of Peter Liciaga's Dream 100 Project.