Dr Isha Kohli
PhD in Microbiology, runs educational institutions and brings over 20 years’ experience in parenting, child psychology, and education.
The season of board exams have started and whether these exams are truly a turning point in life or just another academic assessment is a debate in itself. However, one truth remains unchanged, these exams carry immense expectations, constant comparisons, and overwhelming pressure. Not just boards, with the academic sessions about to end school final term exams are also knocking the doors in the heads of educators, parents and children. Added to this is a growing concern of frequent distractions and reduced concentration among children, a challenge that has deeply stressed not only today’s parents but generations before them as well. The pressure may change its form with time, but its weight has been felt across ages.
When it’s just a few days left for the exam, is your child still easily distracted when reading, solving problems, or following lessons? Do they find it hard to sustain attention for any length of time, despite your best efforts? You’re not alone as many parents are sailing in the same boat.
Science behind distraction: Attention control helps in regulating engagement on a targeted task for a set period of time. It works in a way where one part of the brain focuses on the task whereas the other part suppresses the wish to focus on the irrelevant topics and distractions. Lack of attention is not laziness or lack of seriousness. Board exams in specific come in the life of a children when they are in their adolescence period when a part of their brain responsible for attention is still developing. It requires continuous training and counselling to stay discipline. Constant exposure to digital world, peer pressure, fear of failure and exam stress further detaches the child from their wish to practice for their exams.
Raising focus mind: How parents make the difference:
A) Help and guide child to set up a daily routine: Directional approach is crucial to gain sense of responsibility and security. The time to get up, fixed time to study, play, meals, and sleep is crucial. The schedule made should not just stick on notice board or room’s wall, it shall be strictly followed until it becomes a habit of the child. If a child knows what they need to do next, they are less likely to get distracted and naturally follows routine.
B) Time-targeted study: this strategy creates a healthy challenge for the child to complete the task in set time. It becomes a game for the child and in a fun way the child finishes it with less distraction and gets engaged in the work. This strategy becomes more efficient if a big task or chapter is broken in to smaller and manageable sections. Instead of finishing a chapter in one go, it can be done in shifts which brings clarity of concepts and interest to study and complete it further. The child feels the task is achievable rather than overwhelming and helps in gaining confidence when the task is accomplished. The child also learns time management skills and self-discipline if this strategy is followed.
C) Distraction free study space: May not be a particular room but a fixed space that is away from TV noise, kitchen’s distraction and frequent movements. The study space shall be fixed and not keep changing daily. It is crucial that the area selected should be clutter free and minimal objects should be there to avoid any kind of distraction. Care should be given that no unnecessary digital gadgets like mobile or laptops are placed near the child’s study area because these instruments can remind the child of any incidence and the child can loss the concentration. All the necessary objects required like notebooks, stationery etc. should be available on the study table. It is advisable to stop studying on bed or couch to avoid any kind of laziness.
D) Limit digital distractions: Post Covid the electronic gadgets have become unavoidable part of our lives. Study materials, E-versions of books and notes and previous year question banks are readily available. Although this is a blessing, but it has been observed that when the child opens any digital study resource, the retention is there for just 15-20 minutes and after this the attention is diverted to social media which is more engaging and visually stimulating. The hard copies version should be preferred and child should be encouraged to prepare self-written notes. The mobiles shall be switched off during the study time to avoid distractions.
E) Pretend, Play and Study: This is another effective technique that helps in naturally reducing distractions and helps child to stay focus. In this techniques, the child can keep any object say any soft toy and pretend to be the teacher. The child then teaches the concepts in his words to the dummy student. While teaching, the clarity of thoughts, recalling of information and better understanding of concepts happen. The child can understand the gap of learning and can then revise the topic again. If a parent becomes a dummy student, its turns in to a meaningful and emotional experience both for parents and child.
Child starts explaining freely and shares the challenges faced in a particular subject or chapter. The sense of parental support is felt by the child rather than being judged. It’s advantageous for parents also as they will get to know the status of child’s preparation for examination.
F) Frequent tests and questions solving: When the child prepares a particular topic, the tests and extra questions play a crucial role to identify the weak areas and helps in reducing distractions. Give the challenge to the child while doing tests like he/she gets challenges in the playground. Children have the hidden tendency to accept challenge and go to an extent to complete the challenge. Also while doing extra questions, the child actively engages in the concept rather than passively reading the topic.
G) Study sessions- break- study session: Long study sessions will distract the child and the child will dislike opening the book. Small breaks (avoiding mobiles or TV), are important to avoid mental fatigue. If after a long study session, for example solving 3 hours previous year question paper, 1 hour of an outdoor playtime helps to stay energetic and concentrated. A lazy and tired child with low energy will not put his complete efforts while studying. And research has proved that exercise and physical games keep the body energetic.
H) Small reward to improve child’s focus: Simple rewards such as buying stationery, giving extra play time or offering loved food can be used as perks for completing the tasks provided. This small act acknowledges the efforts made by the child and motivates to excel in the next target thereby reducing distractions and stress.
There is no structured one step recipe or one day effort for the parents to help children to gain focus. It is a gradual process that needs patience, calmness, understanding child’s psychology and a strong bond with the child. With continuous positive reinforcement and emotional support a child can easily stay focus and disciplined with clarity of thoughts in his head thereby building the future full of opportunities and growth.