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We all know that paying attention in class and at home is hard. But what if you could actually get your kids to pay attention? Well, now you can! Here are some ways to get them to listen: We try our best to give our kids a little guidance on where they go wrong. Even though we think we understand why kids act the way they do, it’s always helpful to have more insight. And that's exactly what listening is — it's cultivating an open mind so you can see things from another perspective. In order to help your child focus on learning, you need to be able to speak their language as well as theirs. Try these strategies for getting your kids to pay attention:
Explain the Importance of Attention
When children are young, they are incredibly impressionable. What they think, what they say, and even how they act can all be influenced by how you treat them. Paying attention in class can seem like a challenge, but it’s actually the most rewarding experience you will have as an educator. When kids are actively engaged in learning, they are not just taking notes or making sure they know the answers to their assignments; they are also processing information, forming thoughts, and building Vocabulary. There are many benefits to paying attention in school: everyone’s attention, being able to complete assignments independently, improved memory, and being able to understand and speak more complex language.
Set Limits on Online Activity
Kids get really attached to their computers. Maybe it’s the free time they get to spend online, or the fact that they can check their emails during free periods, or the fact that they can “be themselves” online. Whatever the reason, kids these days can get incredibly attached to their computers. Kids should be able to socialize, communicate, and learn without having to have a computer or smartphone nearby. That said, some kids are very comfortable with computers and tech, while others need help learning how to use a new device. Keeping a computer out of the classroom is one way to help your kids stay focused. It’s also one way to keep them from developing a tech-addiction!
Play Games that Involve Paying Attention
Did you know you can use games to get your kids’ attention? We love building our children’s excitement for learning with games! Here are a few interesting games you might try: Brain Scramble - This is a great game to use when you’re trying to get your child’s attention. They will love the fact that they have to use their brains to “scramble” their way to the top of a scrabbled brain! Word Search - Another great game to use when you’re trying to get your kids’ attention. They will love the fact that they have to “search” words in a word search game! Pin the Tail on the Donkey - You may have seen this game in the park or at the zoo. The idea is that you try to “dress” a donkey in as many different clothing items as you can. Your kids will love this game!
Help Your Child Concentrate
It’s easy to get side-tracked when kids are trying to listen to their own thoughts or stories. When kids are trying to process information, they are more likely to pay attention to what you are saying if you are paying attention to what they are doing. Try to keep your eye on the prize and not on the distractions: redirect your attention to what you’re interested in and your kids will follow. Use Refreshing Interruptions Kids love to hear you speak. When you’re not paying attention to them, they will often start speaking what they’re thinking. This is actually a really bad idea! Refreshing interruptions are interruptions that are so unexpected and unexpected they are unexpected interruptions. You know that feeling when you’re in the shower, you suddenly have to break a hot shower? That’s refreshing interruptions. Refreshment interruptions are interruptions that come from nowhere and surprise your child. You may start a game of “I Spy” and your child may surprise you with what they see. It’s a great way to get their attention when you’re in a meeting, on the phone, or in class.
Don’t Ever Let the Room or Screen Stop Talking
The television is a big, bad, loud, controlling, distracting thing. It gets in the way of learning, compromises your child’s privacy, and affects their sleep. Your computer and smartphone are even worse because they have so many bells and whistles you haven’t even begun to think about. Be careful with these devices: they can cause attention issues for your kids. Keep your home as quiet as possible by using headphones when your child is in the room, using a sound machine when they are down stairs, carrying a noise-cancelling noise-reducing headset, or using a physical sound machine. If your child is old enough to have a phone of their own, consider getting them a speaker phone so they can still use their handheld device in another room. You can also purchase “quiet” smartphones that have built-in speakers so you don’t have to worry about them drowning out other sounds in the house.
Conclusion
The interesting thing about listening is that it doesn’t have to be challenging. All you have to do is sit down and pay attention to what your child is doing, and you will be amazed at how much you can learn from just looking at a single object. Pay attention, and you will notice an increase in your students’ engagement and satisfaction with learning.
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