"Pay attention." Your child will likely hear these words repeatedly from toddlerhood until well after retirement. It takes little parental involvement to get most children focused intently on a favorite video game or television program. Getting them focused on schoolwork, however, usually takes a little more effort. By establishing good study habits at home and teaching your child a few basic principles, you can help her learn the fine art of paying attention at school.
Step 1
Schedule your child's homework time. Success in school often revolves around developing good study habits at home. Sports, social events and even a parent's job can make it difficult to squeeze in one more activity at the end of a long day. But teachers use homework to gauge a student's grasp of daily lessons, help him prepare for tests and keep him focused on the concepts taught that day, so homework should be a priority.
Step 2
Remove significant distractions during homework sessions, and give your child a specific place to study where you can supervise from a distance. Teachers generally want parents to avoid taking a child step-by-step through a routine assignment. Parents can help, however, by reviewing the overall concepts covered in the homework lesson.
Step 3
Teach your child how to take notes by including pertinent facts and summarizing the main topic of a lecture in his own words instead of writing down everything the teacher says. This helps him learn how to focus on valuable nuggets of information rather than just a jumble of words. Explain the skill thoroughly, and practice it by giving him a brief "pretend" lecture.
Step 4
Buy her a small notepad and pen for making lists. Help her focus on upcoming events in order of importance and organize her daily schedule accordingly. Have her jot down reminders about items she will need, or research she has to do before completing a special project. Show her how to reduce a seemingly overwhelming task into manageable steps by making a daily "to do" list.
Step 5
Ask your child to look at you when you give him instructions. Make sure he actually focuses his attention on you, not the television or other distractions. Have him repeat the instructions in his own words to clarify his understanding. Encourage him to do the same at school by repeating to himself or writing down what he heard his teacher say. Remind him that he can ask questions in class as long as he follows classroom rules.
Tips and Warnings
- Try a game night at home to help improve your child's focus through fun with concentration games, word puzzles or other activities that require her undivided attention. Coloring or activity books that require your child to find a hidden object, or describe the differences in similar objects, help young children learn to filter out distractions as they focus.
