As a new scholastic year begins, many parents want their children to leave the distractions behind and get better at focusing on their schoolwork. However, in today’s modern world, the smart television, phone, social media and simply not fully grasping the subjet can create disturbances when they are studying.

Before searching for solutions to improve focus and memory, one must understand the differences between focus and concentration. Focus entails paying attention to an activity or idea, while concentration involves having the ability to pay attention to something continually. Both focus and concentration are essential skills that are required for children to succeed in their learning, achieve goals, manage their emotions and think creatively. There are a number of reasons why children have trouble focusing on tasks.

Improvement of attention and concentration skills is a gradual process that needs patience, consistency and, of course, proper support from parents, teachers and peers. In today’s world, full of distractions, developing such skills can become an everyday routine that helps kids succeed in studying and become more confident and strong individuals. We speak to Praneet Mungali, Educator and Trustee, Sanskriti Group of Schools, who shares 5 habits that school children can practise that can make a meaningful difference in improving memory and focus:

1. Encouraging Physical Exercise
Physical exercise will help enhance the flow of blood in the brain as well as improve one’s concentration and coordination skills:
a. Promote yoga and deep breathing: Yoga movements like the tree pose and the warrior pose assist in coordinating the body and developing control over oneself.
Deep breathing will make children relaxed and refocused.
b. Introduce cross lateral movements: Activities such as touching one’s right elbow with his or her left knee help use both sides of the brain.

2. Do Activities That Stimulate Your Brain
Fun brain games develop your ability to pay attention, remember and think logically.
a. Spot the Difference or Find the Hidden Object: This is done in order to develop observational skills, visual memory and sustained attention.
b. Copy and Continue Patterns: Creating and continuing patterns by using colored beads, blocks or any other shapes develops sequencing skills, logical thinking and focus.
c. Story Chain Activity: Each child has to add a sentence to the story remembering what was said before which helps to develop listening, verbal memory and creativity.

3. Divide Major Activities into Smaller Ones:
Sometimes kids get distracted from tasks because those appear too difficult for them to be done. Breaking down a new or complicated activity into several easy steps makes such a task easier to understand, perform, and remember.

4. Pomodoro Technique:
The Pomodoro Technique suggests working on something for some period of time (20-25 minutes) and then taking a little break (5 minutes). Such a technique helps to avoid mind tiredness, become more productive and increase attention span.

5. Make an Undistracted Place to Study:
It is crucial to provide children with a quiet and organised place for studying and make sure that there are no distractions like gadgets during the time of doing homework. The final tip is about lifestyle. Proper nutrition, sufficient amount of water, and quality sleep make one’s brain work much better, and improve attention and memory.