How can I build my child's concentration at home?

A young child is not going to randomly one day be able to concentrate. It takes time with their growth and repetition in "works" or manipulative/ exercises to develop levels of concentration. How can I build my child's concentration at home?

There are two main points for a child to build their concentration length... Following Through and Sense of Order. To understand why this is so important, you must know your child's developmental needs for their age.

Children rely on order and routine. When it gets disrupted, then your child feels displaced which in your eyes, looks like a tantrum (which I understand is hard to deal with as a parent, but keep in mind, your child does not know how to process or control their emotions yet). If you think about your child's eating and napping routine and how that makes them moody when it is off, it is the same with their environment around them. Your child will take you to the fridge or pantry to show they are hungry, they know where to go for food. That is an example of their sense of order in their environment.

Now let's create this sense of order in their bedroom, playroom, living room, where ever in your home you think is a good spot for your child/ren to build their concentration. If you do not already own a small shelf, go buy one real quick! I like this one _______________. I also suggest finding a mixture of baskets, trays, or boxes to place "works" , exercises, toys, manipulative or other things your child enjoys. That's all you need.

To help build your child's concentration, only put a few items on the shelf at a time. Your child needs to be able to repeat the exercise, toy or manipluative multiple times until their own liking of perfection in the activity. This allows your child to grow their concentration on a few things at a time so they are able to build their motor skills and confidence within themselves that they can do something independently. Once you see your child has "mastered" that activity or is no longer interested in the item because it became too easy or for another reason, that is a sign it's time to chage out the items on the shelf with "new" items. Use toys or manipluatives you already have and rotate them in and out. You can also do this with books.

Reading the same 10 books for a short period, helps build the child's visual and auditory skills in their language and reading development. Why is this? We as humans, especially children, learn best through repetition. When you read with your child the same story over and over again, they begin to memorize the story and sometimes can even catch on to certain words on the page. Having a select amount of books on the shelf at a time allows for the child to truly explore the entire images and story, which in return also builds concentration! Rotate books on a weekly or biweekly basis dending on your child's interest level in the chosen books.

You can also tell when it times to change out the items on the shelf by observing your child's behavior. Do you notice they don't gravitate towards one things any more? Does nothing entertain them very long any more? Those are signs they are ready for change and a challenge. As your child grows, so does their independences, growth motor skills and concentration skills.

The second important part of building concentration in you child is Following through. This is the hardest and most draining part, but give the best results in the long run. Once again, children rely on order and routine, now relate that to their activities, toys or what ever item you have on your shelf, daily eating, cleaning routines and so on. The easiest way to start following through, is by only allowing your child to have one item out at a time. Guide your child by showing them they must put away an item they are no longer using any more before getting our something new. If you keep doing this simple routine, it becomes your child's routine and you hopefully have to remind them less to clean up after themselves. This simple routine also builds their concentration because it trains their brain to remember simple steps that in return becomes a routine. Simple steps are: 1. choose one item at a time, 2. complete item at least one time through, 3. return item back to where it originally came from, 4. repeat with new item.

Another simple idea to help with following through and building concentration, is to allow your child to help you in the kitchen or setting the table. Always start small and work up to more. For example, allow your child to help set the water glasses on the table and put them in the dish washer or counter when the meal is over. This one item from start to finish will help build the child's concentration and following through on an activity. Once they have "mastered" completeing that task, add another simple one on like, plates, napkins, utensils and so on. It also makes the child feel included and helpful at home. Your child love you so much and want to help you, let them.

Understanding your child's developmental needs like creating/having a sense of order helps build your child's concentration levels and gives them a safe and confident feeling in their environment. When you guide your child/ren to follow through in cleaning up after themselves, helping their parents and envirnment, and more you are helping your child's concentration skills, confidence, self worth, and independence.