Five Home Activities to Help Young Children Focus

Sep 12, 2024

What may seem simple for grown-ups may also teach important skills to children. Below are some games to help children practice and improve their focus, concentration, and attention. By learning by playing, children can develop these skills in a fun way that can be transferred to different areas of life.

1. The Freeze Game:

 * How to Play: When you say, "Freeze!" children must stop whatever they are doing and hold still. After a few seconds, you say, "Unfreeze!" and they can start moving again.

 * Benefits: This game helps children learn to follow instructions and stay still, which are essential skills for focusing.

2. Simon Says:

 * How to Play: The adult (or "Simon") gives instructions that begin with "Simon says." Children must only follow the instructions if they are preceded by "Simon says." If they follow an instruction without "Simon says," they are out.

 * Benefits: Simon Says helps children listen carefully and follow directions, which are crucial for focus.

3. Story Time:

 * How to Play: Read stories aloud to the children and ask them questions about the story.

 * Benefits: Storytime helps children listen carefully.

4. Matching Games:

 * How to Play: Use matching games with pictures or shapes to help children focus on details and find similarities.

 * Benefits: Matching games help children develop concentration and attention to detail.

5. Dead/Alive:

 * How to Play: When you call "Dead!", children must squat, when you call "Alive!", children must stand. Increase the speed of call to make the game more difficult. Use opposing gesture to complicate the game. For example, call "Dead!" put point up! Remind your child to follow your spoken command, and not your hands.

 * Benefits: Dead/Alive helps children increase their auditory attention even when visually distracted.

Remember to keep sessions short and engaging to maintain children's interest and focus. If a child is finding it difficult to focus, try to make the activity more interactive or provide encouragement to keep them on track.

Are these games going to be the solution of all of your problems? Absolutely, not! But in my experience as a martial arts Sensei, they help tremendously if practiced consistently.