There are many reasons why your child could be having trouble concentrating. Some of these reasons might be:
- Lack of sleep
- A diet high in sugar and saturated fats
- Excessive screen time
- Physical distractions (such as illness and stress)
- The home environment (monkey see; monkey do)
- A poor routine
If you have a toddler at home who has trouble focusing, you are not alone. When my son Carter was born, I was completely and utterly lost. My husband and I had recently moved to a new city, far away from family and friends. And the concept of, “it takes a village to raise a child,” echoed in my ears. Like all of you, I wanted to give my son the best life I could. After a lot of research, I found Montessori.
Dr. Maria Montessori believed that one of the best gifts we can give children is an environment that enables them to develop their ability to concentrate.
Below are 4 simple actions you can take right now to help boost your child’s concentration
▪️One: Keep toys minimal and simple. Toys that focus on a single skill or concept build the foundation for more advanced learning later on.
▪️Two: Less is more. Instead of stocking your child’s play area with tons of things, take out a few at a time and spread them out. I rotate his toys/activities about once per week or as he outgrows an activity. If it’s no longer challenging him, it’s time to move on to something slightly more challenging. Challenging enough to intrigue him but not too difficult to where it will frustrate him.
▪️Three: Take apart each activity and place it neatly in a basket or tray. Check to make sure all parts are in place. For example, if it’s a puzzle make sure there aren’t any missing parts. Do this in advance by preparing the play/work station before the child is ready. I try to set up, clean and organize his homeschool the evening before so that everything is set up for when he first wakes up in the morning. This is the first place he goes to when he wakes up.
“Play is the work of the child.” Maria Montessori
▪️Four: Zip it. 😅This one is hard for me. Try not to talk and just observe. You can quietly demonstrate how to use a new toy the first time. If he needs your help, he’ll let you know by looking at you. You can take this opportunity to ask if he or she wants some help or to simply say, “good job.” I bend the rules here and LOVE congratulating him. Hey, this is the way we do Montessori in our home but I do try not to be a buzzing ear if he’s concentrating.
Summary
And there you have it. Tips I’ve picked up along the way to help foster concentration and independence.
There’s always something to learn when it comes to parenting, and I’m still very much in learning mode. Drop me a comment and let me know what are some things you do to help your child engage more. I always welcome and appreciate suggestions and live for tips and ways I can be better! ❤️
XO,
Iris
