Help! My child struggles to concentrate

Help! My child struggles to concentrate

Last updated on 2nd October, 2024 at 11:52 am

As exams approach, many students struggle to focus. Here are expert-backed tips to help your child concentrate and perform at their best.

Reading time: 4 minutes

In this article, you will learn:

  • Practical tips to boost your child’s concentration during exam season.
  • Expert advice on creating sensory-friendly study spaces and mindfulness techniques.
  • How hydration, nutrition, and sleep affect focus and academic performance.

The final stretch of the year means summer and Christmas holidays are around the corner – but so are the dreaded end-of-year exams. This can be a stressful time for learners and families alike, especially if you have a matric student in the house. Mariaan Jacklin, an occupational therapist practicing from Bloubergstrand with a special interest in mental health for adults and adolescents, says, “Stress is often triggered by perceived threats in the future – in the case of students or scholars studying for exams, the perceived threat of failing or underperforming.”

Fortunately, there are ways to boost concentration and help kids perform at their best, both in and out of the classroom. Here are some ways you can help your child or teen improve their focus during this critical time.

1. Stay hydrated

Did you know that even though the brain is 85% water, it can’t store water? Keeping water handy, especially during long study sessions, can help children and teens maintain better focus since proper hydration ensures their brain can function at its peak. It gives the brain energy to function as well as being crucial in the production of neurotransmitters.

2. Fuel the brain with healthy study snacks

Stock up on brain food like nuts and berries, apples, tuna, dark chocolate, eggs, leafy greens, and yoghurt, and keep the sugary snacks and takeaways for weekend treats when they don’t have to study.

3. Set up a sensory-friendly study space

Occupational therapist Annette Nel at Growing Oaks Occupational Therapy in Stellenbosch suggests adjusting the study environment to minimise distractions and improve focus. Nel and Jacklin advise the following to set up a space where all your child’s senses are catered to for maximum focus:

Visual:

“Adjust lighting, reduce clutter, and eliminate distractions. Use soft, natural lighting or calming visual scenes. Reducing screen time or using blue-light filters can prevent eye strain and visual fatigue,” Nel says.

Touch:

“Fidget toys, stress balls, and other tactile tools might help for those who have trouble keeping their hands still when studying,” suggests Jacklin. “For teens who enjoy movement and are always bouncing or riding back on their chairs, a gym ball or swivel chair instead of a regular seat may assist in self-regulation.”

Smell:

“Aromatherapy can help regulate mood and focus,” says Nel. “Calming scents like lavender or chamomile can reduce stress while energising scents like peppermint or citrus boost concentration” Jacklin suggests a scented candle, which will also help the brain associate the space with learning and concentrating.

Taste:

“Chewing gum, sucking on mints, or snacking on crunchy foods like apples or carrots can offer sensory input that helps maintain concentration,” advises Nel. “Drinking water through a straw or using a sucking water bottle, or sucking on hard candies, can also provide soothing oral input.

Movement:

Nel says you have to encourage your child to take frequent movement breaks. “Simple stretches or quick walks can release tension and refresh focus.”

Auditory:

White noise, nature sounds, or instrumental music can reduce auditory distractions while noise-cancelling headphones are helpful in noisy environments. Jacklin also suggests that teens who enjoy auditory stimulation listen to background music, such as lo-fi hip hop study beats, or verbalise information out loud while they are learning.

5. Try mindfulness and grounding techniques

Mindfulness can be a helpful tool to combat stress since it focuses on the present. Jacklin suggests you encourage your child to be mindful by using their senses: “Let them feel their feet on the ground, smell fresh air or a scented candle, take a sip from a soothing drink, and listen to the sounds in the garden.” You can also teach your teen simple mindfulness exercises like deep breathing or body scanning, Nel suggests. “A quick five-minute breathing exercise before studying can reduce anxiety and help them stay present during their study sessions.”

6. Make sure they sleep

“Maintaining good sleep hygiene and a consistent sleep routine will reduce stress levels, improve memory, and increase focus,” Jacklin concludes. “Avoid cell phones and tablets within one hour of going to bed and create a consistent nightly sleep ritual to prepare the body and the mind for rest. Try to avoid napping during the day and rather opt for light exercise to energise the body when feeling fatigued.”

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