Have a Daydreamer on Your Hands? 7 Tips For Getting Your Kid to Focus

Before your kid starts any task that takes concentration, turn off all gadgets, including televisions, iPads, and cell phones. If they need to go on a computer for homework, set it up for them in advance so they're not tempted to use it for anything but studying.

If you have other children in the home who are playing or watching iPads or TV, make sure the child who needs to focus is far enough away that they won't be distracted. In addition, make sure that everything your child needs to complete their assignment is close at hand, so they don't have to stop and get up to get materials or even a drink of water.

Having a lot of tasks or homework assignments is generally overwhelming for kids. Making a list of everything that needs to be completed is helpful because it provides a visual reminder your child can refer back to and gives them a sense of accomplishment when they can cross off a task they've finished. Consider buying a chalkboard or white board where you can write down to-do lists for personal tasks (get dressed, make bed, brush teeth and hair, etc.) and school work. If an individual school assignment takes more than 15 to 20 minutes to finish, try breaking it into shorter segments that are more manageable.

Having a routine that your child follows daily will help them become accustomed to completing certain tasks at specific times with less complaint. For example, maybe your child gets home from school at 3:30 p.m. and knows that you'll immediately greet them with a snack and engage them in a brief conversation about their day, after which it's always homework time, followed by playtime until dinner. After just a few days of following that schedule, your child will know, expect, and accept that it's homework first, playtime second.

It's not just annoying to you when you have to remind your child over and over again to return to a task. Just the sound of your voice can be a bigger distraction to a child who is struggling to concentrate. Instead, come up with a couple of basic signals (pointing to what they're supposed to be doing, patting a shoulder when you notice their attention has wavered) that indicate that your child needs to refocus without any disturbing talk. It might sound silly, but speaking from experience, it can really work.

After your child has been focusing on a task for 5 to 20 minutes (depending on their age), make sure they take a break. Have them get up for a few minutes, move around, go to the bathroom, or get a drink; then get back to work. Giving your child time to get out that energy may actually help them focus better on the next task. Just be sure not to make a break so long that your kid can get involved in another activity.

When your child completes a task on their own or with little intervention on your part, be sure to reward that behaviour. A sticker, extra screen time, or a small piece of candy usually works, or you can give them a star on a chart they work to complete for a larger reward like a toy or outing to a favourite restaurant or ice cream shop. However, the reward can also simply be praise from you.