Erinome:Hello dear friends, and welcome back to our show. I'm Erinome.
Enceladus:And I'm Enceladus. Hello everyone!
Erinome:Today we are going to talk about a topic that many parents worry about.
Enceladus:Yes, you know that? It's about children's attention. Why do they get distracted so easily in class?
Erinome:Exactly. They can't sit still in class, and when they do homework, they always want to get up for a drink of water or a snack. It's a common problem.
Enceladus:It is. And the articles we read say that attention is a very basic factor for intelligence. It's the foundation for memory, thinking, and other abilities.
Erinome:Wow, so it's really important. So, what are the reasons why kids can't focus?
Enceladus:Well, the first reason is very natural: the child's age.
Erinome:Oh, that makes sense. Different ages have different attention spans.
Enceladus:Right. For children under 6 years old, they can usually focus for about 5 minutes.
Erinome:Only 5 minutes? That's very short.
Enceladus:It is. For first and second-grade students, it's about 10 minutes. For older primary school students, it can be 15 to 20 minutes.
Erinome:So parents shouldn't expect a 7-year-old to study quietly for an hour.
Enceladus:No, that's not realistic. By the time they finish primary school, they can focus for about 30 minutes, which is almost like an adult.
Erinome:Okay, that's very useful information. The articles also mentioned gender, right?
Enceladus:Yes, they did. Generally, boys' attention spans are shorter than girls'. But, of course, every child is different. Some quiet kids can focus for longer.
Erinome:That's true. So age and gender are natural factors. What about things we can control? Like daily habits?
Enceladus:Good question. Life habits are a big reason. Many parents say their kids are sleepy in class but full of energy after class.
Erinome:Haha, I've heard that before.
Enceladus:This is often related to sleep and food. Primary school students need at least 8 to 9 hours of sleep.
Erinome:If they don't get enough sleep, of course they will be tired in class.
Enceladus:And food is also important. If a child eats too much sugar or is too full for breakfast, it's not good for focus.
Erinome:Why is that?
Enceladus:Because when you eat a lot, more blood goes to your stomach to help digest the food. This means less blood goes to the brain, so it's harder to concentrate.
Erinome:I never thought about that! That's very interesting. What are some other reasons?
Enceladus:Sometimes, parents themselves are a reason.
Erinome:Oh no! How?
Enceladus:Well, imagine a child is doing homework very carefully. Then, the mother comes in to give him a glass of water. This action actually disturbs the child's focus.
Erinome:I see. We think we are caring for them, but we are actually breaking their concentration.
Enceladus:Exactly. Another big factor is TV and other electronic products.
Erinome:You know that? I was expecting this one. Too much screen time is a problem.
Enceladus:Yes. When watching TV, kids get information from fast-moving pictures. It's easy and interesting.
Erinome:But listening to a teacher in class is different. It's mostly just listening.
Enceladus:Right. If children are too used to the exciting pictures on TV, they might feel that listening in class is boring and can't stay focused.
Erinome:That makes a lot of sense. So, we've talked about the reasons. Now, the most important part: what can parents do to help?
Enceladus:Okay, let's talk about the solutions. First, create a good environment for learning.
Erinome:What does that mean? A clean room?
Enceladus:Yes, a tidy desk and bookshelf, with toys put away. It's best if there is no computer or TV in their room. Also, parents should try not to talk loudly or walk around outside the door.
Erinome:So, create a quiet and simple space. Got it. What's next?
Enceladus:Make a plan for life and study.
Erinome:A schedule?
Enceladus:Yes. Have a fixed time for getting up, studying, and sleeping. Parents can help their child make a study plan for the day. When the child finishes a task, they can put a check mark next to it.
Erinome:Oh, I like that idea. Seeing all the check marks will give the child a sense of achievement.
Enceladus:Exactly. And, of course, use electronic products less.
Erinome:Right. If they are used to the sounds and lights from games and TV, it's hard for them to sit quietly and read a book.
Enceladus:Another point is to understand your child's personality.
Erinome:How does that help?
Enceladus:Well, if a child is naturally slow, parents shouldn't always push them to be faster. If a child can't focus for long, maybe they can study in a "small amounts, many times" way.
Erinome:So, find a study method that fits the child. That's smart
Enceladus:The articles also talked about food. There are some foods that are not good for concentration
Erinome:Really? Like what?
