Attention problems occur in children much more frequently than in adults. While adults can “sit down” to tasks using discipline and willpower, children are not yet able to motivate themselves in that way, and their natural capacity for attention is lower. This is compounded by factors such as distractions, fatigue, emotional overload, or tasks that may seem too difficult or uninteresting to a child. However, when a child starts attending kindergarten—and later school—the ability to concentrate becomes crucial for absorbing new material and achieving academic success.
So, what are the signs that a child is having trouble concentrating? The child may appear fidgety and might miss certain instructions, requiring them to be repeated. They may stare off into space, getting distracted by something they find more interesting. They may have difficulty maintaining a coherent train of thought, jumping from one topic to another, and not listening to the teacher. Fortunately, children’s focus is a skill that can be developed with practice and by following certain guidelines.
Why Is It So Challenging?
Children naturally have a limited attention span because this ability is still developing. Prolonged or complex tasks can overload their nervous system, causing it to “crack” as it tries to switch to something more interesting or easier.
It becomes even harder to sustain a child’s attention when there is an overload of new material, which can lead to fatigue. Other contributing factors include a noisy or poorly lit environment and the presence of numerous stimuli that capture a young child’s interest. Moreover, individual differences must also be taken into account. Some children may maintain focus better during active, dynamic tasks, while others perform best with calm, structured activities—this depends on their unique psychological traits.
Additionally, the presence of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) can influence the ability to absorb new information or manage different types of tasks. In the past, researchers assumed that ADHD manifested solely as hyperactivity, but there is another side to it—an impaired ability to maintain focus. A child might appear completely calm, yet still struggle with concentration. In such cases, both hyperfocus and a lack of children’s focus can be symptoms of ADHD, and the good news is that there are effective strategies to work with these challenges.
How to Improve Concentration and Focus While Studying?
The very first step in developing kids' attention is to create an environment that promotes focus on the task at hand. The most important thing is to remove or disable gadgets that might serve as distractions. When an engaging cartoon is playing on the screen, it becomes difficult for a child to play attention-demanding games or, even more so, to process new information.
How to Get a Child to Focus Using the Environment?
A well-thought-out interior is already half the battle. The study space should be comfortable, well-organized, and free of unnecessary clutter. There should be nothing extra on the desk or nearby shelves that could serve as a distraction.
Additionally, the study area where the child works should be well-lit. During the day, it’s best if natural light from the window can illuminate the space, while on gloomy days or for evening sessions, a desk lamp with warm light should be provided. To create an effective study zone, it’s also important to choose neutral colors or shades that promote concentration, such as tones of green or mint, or soft, not overly bright shades of orange. For more information on selecting colors and how children perceive them, please refer to the article “Perception of Color.”
Organize the workspace
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It is very important that the child is comfortable while sitting, with proper back support to maintain good posture during activities. Choose the Preschool Chair, which provides an anatomically correct seating position for your child. Alternatively, you can select the Toddler Desk and Chair with adjustable heights to ensure comfortable seating. As the child grows, the workspace grows with them, adapting to their current needs.
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Sometimes the answer to “how to improve concentration and focus while studying” is collaboration. Allow children to learn together by providing a shared space for this purpose. A wooden play table gives each child enough space for their materials, and working together helps them motivate one another, making it easier to stay focused on tasks. Check out the Kids Wooden Play Table for more information.
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Even if a child works alone, they still need plenty of space so that their work area isn’t overloaded with various items. Choose an option with a wide desktop, such as the Montessori Desk and Chair.
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Another secret to how to improve concentration and focus while studying is the ability to change body positions during tasks. For example, a child might spend part of the time sitting at the desk, then switch to a standing position for practical work—sometimes standing makes it easier to concentrate. For this purpose, the Study Desk and Chair (with adjustable height for both sitting and standing) is designed to accommodate these changes.
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Keep study materials within easy reach so that the child doesn’t have to get up and walk across the room during class to find what they need. Place a Kids Bookshelf next to the desk, where books and study materials are displayed prominently, making them easy and quick to find.
For even more options to create an inspiring environment where it’s easy for a child to learn, explore the Montessori Classroom Set Up category—here you will find everything you might need.
What Should Parents and Teachers Know to Help a Child Concentrate?
Creating a conducive environment is not the only secret to developing and enhancing kids' attention—whether at home or at school, it's also about how to improve concentration and focus while studying by managing energy and using distractions constructively.
Let them be active
Before settling into calm activities, a child needs to expend extra energy. When a child’s internal engine is running, they simply cannot sit still and listen—even in a well-organized workspace. To prevent distractions like a bird flying by the window or some other interesting occurrence, the child must have the opportunity to release that excess energy. Allow them time to play, ride a bike, go for a walk, or explore the playground. This doesn’t have to be lengthy; alternating between physical activities and calm, focused work is a natural rhythm that, when maintained, makes everything easier.
Use distractions to your advantage
For example, if a child gets momentarily distracted by a display outside the window, you might notice and suggest something like counting the birds on a branch, describing it, or naming the first letter—"P," for instance. This positive approach harnesses the distraction rather than reprimanding the child, gently guiding their focus back on track.
Take the child’s interests into account
Even adults find it hard to concentrate on something uninteresting. Use the child’s passions to form focus. For instance, if a child loves everything about dinosaurs, you can count little dinosaurs, draw them, or read stories about them together. Transforming their interests into learning tools can be highly effective.
Establish a routine
If you plan to dedicate a certain portion of each day to activities like learning letters, a bit of counting, drawing, or other tasks, create a clear schedule and follow it day after day. Predictability helps build discipline and gives the child a clear understanding of how long they will be engaged in each activity.
Make breaks a part of the process
Little ones up to 5–6 years old can typically maintain attention on a single task for about 5 to 15 minutes before becoming distracted. Therefore, lessons with preschoolers should be kept within that time frame; otherwise, their effectiveness diminishes. After each lesson, incorporate short physical exercises, walks, or snack breaks to prepare them for the next session and, overall, to create as many positive associations with learning as possible.
Ensure the child gets enough sleep
Establish a solid sleep and rest routine. A child who hasn’t had enough sleep is physically unable to maintain focus during learning sessions. Moreover, lack of sleep affects memory, mood, and the ability to process information. It is therefore crucial that the child enjoys a good night's sleep and, if not a full nap, at least some rest during the day.
Techniques for Concentration
There are a few more secrets on how to improve concentration and focus while studying. When explaining any new material to a child, break it down into the simplest, most digestible parts. Progress from simple concepts to more complex ones, and don’t move on to a new topic until the previous one is thoroughly understood. This approach helps avoid a chaotic buildup of information and makes the learning process more structured.
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Work with a timer by showing the child exactly how long the activity will last—this helps them stay on track. For a visual aid, you might use an hourglass, which can be both engaging and calming.
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Help the child get started. Often, a child struggles to begin a project simply because they don’t know where to start or what the first steps should be. By assisting with those initial steps, you reduce the chances that the child will continue to procrastinate. If needed, break each step down into even smaller, more manageable tasks.
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Finally, use fidget tools—such as massage balls or other sensory items—to help maintain focus. These tools can be held in the child’s hands while they listen to new material. Experiment with different types of fidgets to find the one that best supports the child’s concentration.
Games and Activities That Promote Focus
As mentioned earlier, concentration is a skill that can be improved by engaging in concentration games for kids. In fact, these games are beneficial for adults too—since stress, illness, and other life challenges can make anyone feel distracted. So here are a few concentration games for kids—promise that you’ll join in the fun as well.
Square Breathing
Deep breathing helps to calm the mind and improve focus. Draw a square on the board or ask the child to imagine one. Then, encourage them to “draw” its sides with their breath. For instance, count “1, 2, 3, 4” as they inhale (representing the first side of the square), hold their breath for a few seconds (the second side), slowly exhale while counting “1, 2, 3, 4” (the third side), and then hold their breath again (the fourth side). The association with a square helps the child remember the sequence and serves as a cue to count to four.
Puzzles
Assembling puzzles and building with construction toys are excellent concentration games for kids. These activities help children learn to be more attentive and develop strategies to tackle different types of tasks.
Memory Games
Memory games involve having two sets of paired cards. The child is given a number of cards and must find matching images among them. A more challenging version of this game is when the cards are faced down and the child must turn them over one at a time, remember where each image is, and then match them into pairs.
Sensory Games
Activities such as playing with kinetic sand, modeling clay, or finger painting are great for developing focus. Sensory stimuli help to relieve tension in the nervous system, allowing the child to relax and become more receptive to new information.
The key is to notice when a child is struggling to maintain focus during learning sessions and, rather than scolding, help them overcome the challenge. They can’t do it without your support!
