Tips to help kids concentrate in class

We all want our kids to succeed in school. But for many kids and teens, concentration in this always-pressured, starved-for-time era can be difficult. Here are some tips for helping your son or daughter improve concentration and do better in the classroom:

•Take time for breakfast. Children who eat breakfast and have enough to eat during the remainder of the day will be better able to concentrate in school, according to Head Start, the national child development program run by the Department of Health and Human Services.

•Introduce them to music. Playing musical instruments has shown to increase focus and concentration in other areas.

•Provide a supplement. Finding time to get your kids to eat anything can be a struggle. Finding time to have your kids to eat something healthy – filled with the vitamins and minerals they need to function optimally – is next to impossible! Give them a little nudge with a daily vitamin designed for their age group.

•Send them to bed on time. Studies show that children and most teenagers concentrate best after about nine hours of sleep. A structured bedtime works best if it’s part of a structured day where wake-up time is the same, as well as other important events – meals, homework and relaxation.

•Give them space. Your kids will be better able to concentrate on homework if they have a clear, uncluttered workspace. And turn off the TV; they won’t learn if they’re squeezing their homework in during commercials.

•Get them organized. The National PTA suggests helping older students organize their assignments by recording them on calendars or planners, along with due dates and dates turned in.

•Discourage “cramming.” It increases anxiety and interferes with clear thinking, according to the Department of Education. Kids do better on tests if they spread out studying over several days or weeks and can relate the information to what they already know.