How to Help Your Child Pay Attention

I’m school assembly performer Joe Romano. I’ve spent the last 30+ years performing amazing school assemblies in Maryland, Virginia Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Washington DC, and other states. Each month, I add articles just like this to my blog to help busy parents and school administrators.

Getting kids to pay attention isn’t hard. It’s simply finding what your kids respond best to. But if you keep doing what you are doing, you’ll keep getting the same result. So, you’ll need to try different techniques until you discover the best ones for you and your kids.

How to Get Kids to Pay Attention Tip #1: No Monotone!

Have you ever seen the movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off?” In one scene, teens in a classroom are bored out of their minds because their history teacher speaks in a boring monotone. Many of them are literally falling asleep because the teacher is so boring.

If you want your kids to pay attention, make sure you‘re not using a monotone. You’ll have to discover how to modulate your voice to make what you’re talking about interesting. To get started, here are simple ideas:

·        Change your volume

·        Change your rate of speech.

·        Add emotion to what you’re saying

·        Add pauses when appropriate

·        Make eye contact so the kids know you’re paying attention to them!

How to Get Kids to Pay Attention Tip #2: Keep Instructions Simple

Have you ever felt overwhelmed when someone gives you instructions? They may tell you what you need to know very rapidly. But they go so fast that while you’re still trying to absorb step #2, they’re already halfway through step #8. The result? You feel overloaded and resort to just nodding blankly as they continue.

When giving verbal instructions, only give the first one or two steps. Stop. Pause. Make sure they clearly understand what you said and what they are supposed to do. Only then should you continue with more instructions.

How to Get Kids to Pay Attention Tip #3: Limit Screentime

No surprise here! Any intelligent parent or school administrator knows that kids as a whole are getting way too much screen time. We all know that too much screen time turns their brains into mush. People on their screens for hours at a time may look focused. But they’re rapidly turning into zombies! The more kids are on their screens, the more likely they are to have Attention Deficit Disorder.

How to Get Kids to Pay Attention Tip #4: Speak Closely to Your Kids

Yes, parents wish their children would remain emotionally close to them as they get older. But in this case, we’re talking about literal proximity! When you want to get your child’s attention, where are you? Where is your child?

Are you downstairs in the kitchen and your child is upstairs in their room? Don’t just yell out to your child. They’ll hear how far away you are and find it easy to ignore you! Instead, go to your child. When you make a request, get close to them. That way you can make sure they are focused on you and not just giving you a random “Uh-huh.”

How to Get Kids to Pay Attention Tip #5: Create a Beneficial Environment

Is your child struggling at school? It may be because of their homework environment. Is your child doing their homework while sitting in the living room while the TV is blaring in the background? Or do they do their homework while sharing a room with a sibling? If the sibling is talking on the iPhone or blaring their music, the child studying will have a hard time paying attention.

Do yourself and your child a favor. Take a look at their study environment. Set up their space so they can succeed. A quiet location, a comfortable chair and desk, and the right supplies are all a must. Without so many distractions, your child will likely improve in their studies.

Help Your Entire School Improve Their Grades

My “The Magic In You” Character Education assembly program teaches kids simple tools to succeed in life. Your students will learn about confidence, the value of practice, believing in themselves, and much more. “The Magic in You” is filled with amazing magic, audience participation, and much more. Contact me today for more information.