7 Tips to Keep Your Child Focused on School Work
Nov 13, 2018by editorial team
Trying to keep your child focused on school work is no easy task.
The modern world is full of distractions, and technology is at the core of many of them.
If your child is checking their text messages and social media notifications while doing their homework, they may have trouble staying focused on the task at hand.
Below are our best tips for minimizing technology-related distractions and helping your child stay focused on their school work.
Technology as a Distraction to Children
In a recent study by iKeepSafe:
- 44% of tweens (ages 8-12) and 33% of teens (ages 13-17) reported that technology is a distraction that makes it difficult to stay on task.
- 28% of teens also said that technology regularly interferes with getting their school work completed, and 11% reported that technology causes them to get less sleep.
- 13% of tweens and 14% of teens also tend to lose track of time when using technology. 11% of teens even described themselves as addicted or obsessed with technology.
Technology can be a distraction to adults, too.
- 28% of adults said that technology interferes with offline activities and makes it hard to stay on task. 14% admitted they are spending too much time with technology and need to limit the use of technology in their everyday life.
If managing the distractions that stem from technology is tricky for adults, how difficult must it be for children?
If you would like to minimize the distractions that stem from the use of technology and help your child stay focused on school work, follow our tips below!
7 Tips to Keep Your Child Focused on School Work
1. Set up a Routine.
Having a set routine can help kids stay focused on their school work.
Pick a certain time frame for doing homework and stick to it every night.
Don’t forget to incorporate breaks into the routine, too. When kids know when to expect a break, they will have an easier time focusing on the task at hand.
2. Designate a workspace.
Having a dedicated space for doing homework can help your child “get in the zone” and complete their homework more efficiently.
The designated workspace does not necessarily have to be a desk.
Pick a space that works with your kid’s learning style. If they are comfortable, they will get more work done!
If you can, make this designated workspace a tech-free zone.
If that is not a possibility, limit the use of non-essential technology, like smartphones, in this space.
3. Know your child’s learning style.
What works for one child may not work for another.
If your child is a visual learner, they may have trouble focusing on lectures or other audio material. If they are a hands-on type of learner, they may not be able to stay focused on an educational video.
Try to take advantage of your child’s natural learning style to keep them engaged and focused on their school work.
4. Start unplugged.
While there are homework assignments that cannot be completed without a laptop or a tablet, your child probably has some “offline” homework to do as well.
To keep your child focused, ask them to complete all their offline homework before doing the tasks that require internet access.
5. Turn online tasks into offline tasks.
There are multiple studies which suggest we actually absorb and retain information better in a print format.
To help your child focus better, try turning some of their online tasks into offline ones.
For example, If there is a paper or an eBook that your child has to read to complete their school work, consider printing it out instead.
6. Use focus-boosting apps.
Using technology to fight technology can actually be a great idea.
Browser extensions like StayFocusd and website-blocking apps like Freedom can help you take away the distracting parts of online learning while letting your child use the internet to complete their work.
In addition, apps like Forest can help your children focus by engaging them in a fun, achievement-based mini-game.
7. Share your own struggles.
Be open with your children about your own experiences with technology and distractions.
Knowing that you are not always as productive as you would like to be can help your children feel better about their own struggles.
When they are not worrying about being productive, they can focus on completing the task at hand.
Final Thoughts
Technology can be a distraction for children and adults, but it also brings a lot of positives to our lives.
If you would like to learn more about living with technology in a healthy and balanced way, check out our 21 Day Digital Detox program. While it focuses on reducing your unnecessary radiation exposures, it also establishes healthy boundaries around technology without going offline completely.
