Each month, this series introduces fun and impactful healthy habits to help families with kids and teens prioritize physical, mental and spiritual well being – fostering a lifestyle of shared growth and lifelong wellness. Healthy habits built together are the ones that last a lifetime.
Focus has quietly grown to become one of the most important life skills our children can master. The world they are growing up in is designed to capture their attention and keep it focused on content consumerism and entertainment while distracting them at every chance. As the adults in their lives, it’s up to us to prioritize building their ability to focus in a world full of distractions.
The Distracted Generation is Here
It doesn’t just feel like kids are constantly distracted these days – they are. It’s as if the world they are growing up in has been built to provide constant stimulation with streaming channels, tablets and phones with endless scrolling and dopamine hits one after another. In fact, research from the CDC shows that diagnoses of ADHD in children have steadily increased over the past decade, while studies continue to link excessive screen time to reduced attention spans and difficulty concentrating. The level of distraction this generation is experiencing impacts everything from how they perform in school and sports to relationships and emotional regulation.
Why Focus is the Skill They Need Most
Getting children to learn how to focus is about more than just getting good grades in school, it’s about having a life skill that will help them thrive in adulthood. If you want better listeners, strong communicators, intentional partners and kids who understand how to be present, the focus needs to be at the top of your list for teaching. When children and adolescents learn how to not just manage distractions but truly direct their attention to where it needs to be, they can show up fully in every area of their life.
This month, let’s lean into simple and sustainable ways to help our kids build focus with intentional practices as a family.
Simple Ways to Get Started
Here are a few age-appropriate ways to make focus a habit for your family.
#1 Practice Stillness Through Meditation
Release any preconceived notions that meditation is for “woo woo” adults who have a large chunk of time on their hands! Having your child sit quietly and giving them instruction to close their eyes and share what they hear, feel and notice around them is a great way to include a present moment in their day. Meditation can help reset their little brain and be a huge building block for focus!
#2 Gameify Focus Together
Let your littles enjoy some silly focus time by creating a game out of it! Have one person be the message maker while another tries to listen closely and someone else attempts to create distractions. Help build their intentional listening skills this way, showing them how easy it is to lose focus but how powerful it is when they can find their focus when needed.
#3 Give Distraction a Name
Introduce simple language around focus and distraction to help them identify both and how they show up in daily life. Ask frequent questions like, “Are you pre-occupied right now?” or “Do you think I’m fully listening to you while doing this?” This can help them identify when they feel distracted but also notice when others might be. Encourage them to ask their own questions as well.
Creating Practices That Last a Lifetime
Focus can sometimes come with a negative connotation of guilt – especially for parents. Remember that eliminating distractions takes practice like any other skill. Be the example when you can and learn alongside your kids, too. Small shifts can make a big impact, like putting all phones away during play or meal times so you can focus on your family. Designate specific screen-free times to be outdoors spending intentional time without distractions and let them see what being intentionally present looks like.
Give your kids the gift of focus and better concentration, and they will take it with them long passed childhood and thank you for it!
