‘My son is distracted in class’: this is the premise with which many parents come to the specialists’ office, and it seems that as time progresses, so does the ease with which our children are distracted .
It is completely normal for children to get distracted and daydream sometimes . But when this happens frequently, and even affects your performance in class, it is time to seek professional help.
On the other hand, it is increasingly common to find children who have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), or who have difficulties concentrating , and it is important that we know what to do in these cases.
“People with ADHD often have a special sense of life, a way of looking directly at the nitty-gritty, while others have to reason methodically in their own way.”
-Dr. Edward M. Hallowell-
Why is my child distracted?
There is no single reason to explain why your child is distracted while in class. But keep some of these considerations in mind:
Visual problems
Rule out the possibility that your child will find it difficult to see the board. It may be that it is not a problem of lack of interest or some underlying pathology.
For some children it is difficult to know that they have visual problems, since they do not have a point of comparison (with how others see), so it is unlikely that they will notice.
It is important to be attentive to how they focus their gaze. Pay attention to their eyes when doing homework: do they frown a lot? Squint your eyes? Does it get very close to the notebook? If your answers are yes, we invite you to seek the help of a specialist.
Hearing problems
As with visual problems, hearing difficulties can influence your child’s ability to pay attention.
Hearing loss is related to a low academic index, and many teachers report that children are very distracted in class, before having a diagnosis.
If your child does not listen well to what is being said in class, how could he be interested? This reason is less common than vision problems, but it is important that you take it into consideration.
Does not understand teachers
The reason your child is distracted in class may be because he doesn’t understand the teachers.
They may explain topics you do not understand , or the material being presented may not help you understand, causing you to lose interest and become distracted.
It must be taken into account that teaching work is very complex, and that at times it can be a real challenge.
Therefore, before thinking about a complaint to the teachers, discuss it with them, explain your concerns and together look for new strategies that may be interesting to the children.
It is important to assess cognitive skills
It is important to point out here that, in some cases, a neuropsychological evaluation will be necessary to assess your child’s cognitive abilities (intelligence).
That is, to be able to assess if you have any kind of difficulty, or if, on the contrary, you have high capacities and therefore get bored (next point).
Get bored and / or have high capacities
One of the most common reasons children are distracted in class is boredom , sometimes due to high abilities.
The topic you are presenting may not be of interest to you, or you may even already know it, and since it is not interesting, it will be very easy for you to get distracted and lose concentration in the class.
Also, using strategies in class that are not appealing to you can be distracting.
What can I do to help you?
As parents, there are some things we can do from home to help our children hold their attention for longer.
They can be things that we overlook on a day-to-day basis, but that are fundamental to their development and learning, such as:
Make sure your child rests and sleeps well
This implies paying attention not only to the hours of sleep, but also to its quality. That you have a comfortable space for your rest and that your sleep routine is uninterrupted.
Sleep hygiene is very beneficial in these cases (measures that facilitate sleep, such as removing the screens a few hours before going to sleep).
Create a pleasant environment for your child
If your child finds it difficult to concentrate, make sure that the spaces in which he rests and performs school activities are as neutral as possible, without a large amount of stimuli that can distract him. Order will be your best ally .
Routine is the key
Creating simple but consistent routines will help your child create habits , and we can apply this principle to all areas.
Although we cannot be with them in the classroom, we can help them with tools that facilitate their concentration.
From simple to complex
When your child has a lot of tasks, try to start with the simplest and then move up the level of complexity.
If you start out with the more complicated tasks, you will likely tire quickly and lose interest, making you more easily distracted.
Limit the use of technology
Excessive use of technological equipment (tablets, mobile phones, computers, etc.) has been shown to negatively affect children’s concentration levels.
That is why we recommend limiting and supervising the time your child uses them.
Give clear instructions
Let your child know what you expect him to do . Use short, simple sentences, always making sure he looks at you when you explain.
Don’t take anything for granted, make sure they understand; how to do it? Very simple, ask him to repeat what you just told him (he can do it in his own words).
Lots of patience and love
The best way to help your child is to be patient, and always show how much you love him.
We know that being a parent is not easy, and that at times it can be frustrating, but remember, your child is learning and the bad times will not last forever .
Treat your child with love and don’t forget to do it with you too. Do not worry; You are doing well, trust you!
Talk to your child’s school or teachers to discuss joint strategies
Finally, as we mentioned above, it is important to talk with the teachers to try to identify with them the causes of your child’s distraction in class.
And, above all, to propose joint strategies when facing this situation.
For this, tutorials are good , because they are a time to answer questions and put together how you see your child and what elements can be modified from the classroom (and also from home) in order to favor the attention of the child or adolescent.
Photos | Cover, Image 1 (pexels), Image 2 (pexels)
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