Does your child constantly lose track of homework, zone out while in the classroom, or struggle to stay on task? You’re not imagining things and you’re definitely not alone! When a child can’t keep their focus it’s easy to assume they’re being lazy or distracted by some other factor, but brain science tells a different story. Understanding the why is essential to implementing strategies that helps your child get back on track. The solutions may even be simpler than you think!
Why Your Child Can’t Focus: Understanding the Root Causes
There can be a number of reasons why your child can’t focus but let’s break down the common reasons and root causes:
Normal Developmental Distraction vs. Attention Challenges
Normal developmental distractions vary depending on the child’s age. For early adolescence it’s common for the child to be fidgety or easily distracted by sounds or movement. Generally, around middle school students will become less fidgety and more distracted in the form of daydreaming or rushing through work. As students enter high school, it can be common for students to become distracted by peers or emotional development. Signs your child may have attention challenges include:
- Difficulty focusing across multiple environments (school, at home, doing extracurriculars, etc.)
- Immediately forgets instructions after given them
- Constant disorganization that directly impacts grades
- Gap between intelligence and academic performance
It’s important to note that these patterns need to be persistent and interfere with their functioning in order to be labeled as attention challenges.
Common Reasons a Child Can’t Focus in School
There can be many reasons your child can’t focus on school and some of the most common are:
- Lack of sleep
- Bad eating habits
- Screen time overload
- Anxiety, stress, or a learning environment mismatch
The Brain Science Behind Why Your Child Can’t Focus
Executive Function and Attention Regulation
Focus, planning, and impulse control are all essential parts of executive function skills and attention regulation. These skills are developed and controlled by the prefrontal cortex. The National Library of Medicine describes the prefrontal cortex as:
The data from a number of studies suggest an important role of the prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia in controlling multiple types of impulsivity.
Working memory is another essential component and assists with holding and manipulating information in real time (Like remembering multi-step instructions). When a child has weak working memory it can lead to:
- Losing track of directions
- Forgetting what they were doing mid-task
- The need for constant reminders
What to Do When Your Child Can’t Focus
1. Create a Brain-Friendly Learning Environment
It’s essential to have a dedicated workspace for your student that is free from distractions. This ideally in a room without a TV and is decluttered. It’s also important to begin incorporating consistent routines with this environment.
2. Use Timers and Task Chunking to Build Attention
The pomodoro technique is a great way to help build attention. This technique involves a student working for 25 minutes straight then taking a short 5 minute break. After an hour, the student can then take a longer break that is 15 – 30 minutes long. In fact, our in-person school: The Tenney School has this technique directly built into our curriculum with each one of our classes being 27 minutes long.
3. Support the Brain with Sleep, Movement, and Nutrition
It’s no surprise that managing the brain is essential to building focus. It’s essential to support the brain with plenty of sleep, movement, and nutrition. But how do you do this? Let’s break it down by each part:
Sleep
Ensure that your child gets at least 8 hours of rest. Additionally, the student should have comfortable rest which means the room should have little distractions that could disrupt sleep. Older teens may require even more sleep with some studies claiming teens needed upwards of 9 or 10 hours of sleep. Many schools start early so to meet the necessary rest, your student needs to go to bed earlier.
Movement
Getting exercise isn’t just healthy, it helps your student blow off steam and anxiety. Encouraging your student to participate in sports or exercise can drastically improve their focus at school. Ensure the student is regularly exercising. It doesn’t need to be intense either! Even just going for a walk can do a lot in improving your student’s physical and mental health while stimulating focus.
Nutrition
In today’s world it’s easy for students to develop unhealthy food habits. Having a nutritional balance is necessary for preparing your student for success while improving their focus. Fruits, vegetables, and sandwiches are all great snacks to provide your student with during their study time.
When to Seek Help for a Child Who Can’t Focus
Signs It May Be More Than Just Distraction
If your student is having focus issues that persist for long periods of time, it could be more than just a distraction. It’s always a good idea to consult a professional if you feel this may be the case. They will have the most information that pertains to your child and can provide catered solutions that will work for them!
How Academic Coaching or Tutoring Can Help
If your child needs more assistance with their focus, academic coaching can help! I highly recommend checking out one of our many professional coaches or tutors. Each one of our tutors are professional private school teachers. This means their highly qualified and can help your child get back on track! Check out our scheduling page for more information on our tutors and subjects offered!