How to improve concentration in our kids? It is common for parents to ask this question when they notice their children are having difficulty staying focused and attentive. There are several underlying factors that may contribute to difficulty concentrating, including stress or poor nutrition.
Your child’s concentration can be improved by understanding the cause and developing supportive strategies. You may also involve children in games and activities that enhance focus. Your kid will pay attention when the subject spells fun.
Give these activities and concentration games for kids a try:
1. Puzzles – Picture and words
A puzzle is a fantastic tool for improving concentration.
Picture Puzzle
You will need:
A picture puzzle board game
How to play:
Provide your child with pieces of picture puzzles. Ask them to sort the pieces so the picture can be completed. Identify what is missing and place it accordingly.
Word Puzzle
You will need:
A word puzzle board game
How to play:
Ask your child to form as many words as they can from the letters in the puzzle. You may give them hints for each word. Puzzles keep a child engaged for a long time as they get involved in putting the pieces together or finding the words.
Download: Our word search puzzles for all ages
2. Statue
With this game, the child learns how to stay in one place without getting bored.
You will need:
A music system, or play music on your phone
How to play:
Play the music. Have your child dance or play a character. Stop the music and say “Statue”. Your child must hold the exact position they are in. Freeze them for about 30 seconds and say “Release”. Once you say “release” they can move and change their posture.
3. Tongue twisters
Children can improve their concentration and pronunciation skills through this popular game. In addition to stimulating their hearing memory, it entertains them as well.
You will need:
A piece of paper, or a blackboard
How to play:
Write some tongue twisters on the blackboard or a piece of paper. Give it to your child and ask them to read it aloud. Then let them read it faster and faster. As they go faster, they will falter. The game is to see how long they can say it right. Go ahead and say it together, this will make you laugh together with your kid. Ask your child to come up with their own tongue twisters. Here are a few tongue twisters— ‘She sells sea shells on the sea shore’, ‘A proper copper coffee pot’, ‘Red lorry, yellow lorry, red lorry, yellow lorry’.
4. Missing numbers
It enhances concentration and numerical ability.
How to play:
Start counting numbers in a sequence and leave one out on purpose. Have your child shout out what you missed. As an example, let’s use “8, 9, 10, 12”. This is when your child should shout “11”. Gradually increase the level of difficulty.
5. Beat the clock
Children are generally competitive by nature and love to win. Their capacity to perform well and concentrate increases with this game.
You will need:
A stopwatch
Things like toys, shoes, books, school bag, etc. It depends on the activity you choose.
How to play:
You can assign simple tasks like putting the toys back in the box, arranging the books in the school bag, and keeping the shoes where they belong. Set a realistic time using a timer. The task must be completed before the time runs out.
6. Just a minute
Don’t underestimate the importance of small activities or games. It’s important to teach your child that there is a lot you can do in a minute.
You will need:
A watch
How to play:
Place around 20 balls throughout the room. Give your child a minute to pick up as many balls as they can. Let your child count how many they have collected. Instead of balls, it can be how many words written in a minute, or things put back in minute. You can come up with new tasks to be completed in a minute.
7. Dot puzzles and mazes
Mazes and dot puzzles can keep your child entertained for hours.
You will need:
Print a free dot puzzle from the internet
How to play:
Ask your child to join the dots on a dot puzzle. Give them the freedom to connect the dots according to their imagination. As soon as the dots are connected and the picture is complete, the game ends.
8. Three cups
This game makes the child focus on the cups as you move them around.
You will need:
Three cups
One coin
How to play:
Turn the three cups upside-down. As your child watches, place a coin under one cup. Move the cups rapidly and ask your child which cup contains the coin.
9. What did I change?
This is a great game for kids that boosts their concentration and visual awareness.
You will need:
A tie, your earrings, or anything else
How to play:
Start with yourself. Ask your child to look at you, then close their eyes. Remove your tie, your earring, your hair tie or your shoe. Once your child opens their eyes, they will have to figure out what you have removed.
10. Pattern and routine instructions
Playing with a pattern can also make routines more fun.
How to play:
Make a pattern with instructions. “Spread the peanut butter on the toast first, then spread the kaya, then fold the bread” or “First, put your books in a bag, then remove your shoes, and then wash your hands.” You can challenge your children to see who can get it done the quickest.
Related: 12 simple strategies to improve concentration in kids
Hope Channel Singapore’s articles are written after analyzing research works by expert authors and institutions. Among our references are resources established by authorities in their fields.
