It’s not uncommon for children to get distracted easily since they are constantly being introduced to new concepts and learning about the world around them. Whether your little one has had issues concentrating or you want to encourage early childhood development success with focus-based activities, there are many tips to implement. Use these ideas to get started.

How Can You Help Your Child Concentrate?

1. Burn Excess Energy

Allow your child to walk home from school with friends or run around in the yard for a bit before starting homework or chores. Exercise improves learning by reprogramming the mind to be more alert and motivated. Physical activity also helps nerve cells connect so the brain is better adept at processing new information.

2. Do One Task at a Time

Be a positive example by telling your child that you will clean the bathroom while they complete a math worksheet. Multitasking has proven to decrease productivity, so doing one task before moving on to the next task helps your child stay mindful of the moment.

3. Practice Mindfulness Exercises

Keep working on mindfulness by encouraging your child to take deep breaths before studying or starting other tasks. Known as belly breathing, this activity clears the mind of distractions and calms the body by slowing heart rate, which makes concentrating easier.

4. Plan Breaks

Let your child refresh their mind with planned breaks, such as 15 minutes of playing in the yard after 30 to 45 minutes of doing homework. Recreation gives your young one the chance to avoid the stress and mental fatigue associated with long, uninterrupted work sessions so they come back to the task ready to work.

5. Make Lists

Help your child stay organized with lists instead of feeling overwhelmed by everything they have to finish. Praise your child every time they get a task checked off. Make lists every day so your child doesn’t forget what needs completing and enjoys an easy point of reference.

Work with the experienced team at Guilford Child Development to find quality early childhood development programs throughout Greensboro, NC, and the surrounding areas. Featuring five programs that assist over 5,000 families a year, including Early Head Start and Learning Together Family Literacy, the organization's goal is always to help children reach their full potential. Call them today at (336) 887-8224 with questions or learn more about the programs online. Get additional early childhood development information on Twitter.