How to Improve Your Child’s Reading Attention Span

Reading requires a great deal of attention and focus, be it by adults or children. It can be especially challenging for young readers as they tend to be restless and may struggle to pay attention when reading or even when being read to. Low attention span and a poor concentration level are common issues that young children have and it greatly affects the way they learn and retain any new information. If your child has trouble staying focused while reading, there are a few ways you can do to help them.

• Break up the Reading Time

You should encourage your child to take regular breaks every 20 minutes or so. It can be made more interesting by making them put down their books for some form of activity like running on the spot or doing ten-star jumps.

• Observe the most Favourable Time of Day

Your child’s alertness and their level of focus can dramatically change depending on the time of the day. It’s your job to ensure your child is prepared to sit and put their mind on focusing and reading. It could be anytime – early in the morning, in the afternoon or even before bedtime.

• Create a Distraction-Free Zone

It’s important to create an environment which is free from any kind of distractions. Keep them away from televisions, computers, tablets, and phones as it’s easy to get sidetracked and lose focus. They must have a quiet and comfortable place to read in.

• Be Creative

It’s possible that your child has a short attention span when it comes to reading. This is because their level of focus depends greatly on their level of interest in the activity. Getting creative and turning the reading experience into a fun activity should be your aim. Role-playing some scenes from the book could be the trick to get him/her more engaged.

• Observe their Interests

Observe what your child talks about and what their interests are. As they grow older, their likes and dislikes are bound to change. They might have taken up an interest in horses, dinosaurs, witches or trucks. Whatever it may be, find a book which is related to what they like and try to choose books related to the interest.

• Encourage Physical Activity

Physical and outdoor activities help children broaden their mind as it makes them utilise parts of their brain which they wouldn’t normally when sitting down. Hence, they must be encouraged to take part in physical activities of all kinds as its good for their body and mind.

• Introduce them to Meditation

Meditation is a great way to help the mind focus. This is especially true in case of children. Start with short sessions and gradually increase the timing. Begin by asking them to concentrate on one particular object either in their mind or in the room. This can help them when they are distracted while reading. They can take a minute to re-focus their mind and push out the distracting thoughts.

Being consistent with children is key. Parents should encourage their children to read as it will teach them how to be patient and also to use their imagination and creativity to bring the stories to life. These tips are sure to come in handy for you and anyone else who may be struggling to make their child develop a habit of reading.