Helping Your Child Focus

Today's kids contend with a lot of distractions; cell phones, computers, tablets, on-demand television..... the list goes on and on. It's no wonder that focusing is a source of frustration for parents and teachers alike. What can you do to help your child focus? Dr. Raymond J. Huntington has some excellent tips for keeping your child focused.

Is your child easily distracted? A constant daydreamer? Just plain unfocused? If you’re concerned about your student’s ability to concentrate when it matters most--at school or during homework time--don’t wait to intervene. Luckily, there are many simple things you can do to help your child become a more focused and attentive student who is capable of handling challenging homework and school assignments. Here are six tips to support your child at home: 

 

Evaluate the basics: sleep and exercise. Children who do not get sufficient sleep each night may face a variety of problems, including an inability to focus. According to the National Sleep Foundation, adolescents ages 10-17 years old need 8.5-9.25 hours of sleep each night. Children ages 5-10 need 10-11 hours. It’s also important for children to get plenty of exercise, another important factor in good sleep.

Break down tasks into chunks. Many children get overwhelmed with larger projects or a lot of homework, causing them to become sidetracked when diving in. Teach your child to break down assignments into manageable parts and have him or her see each part through to completion. For example, if a student needs to read a book and write a report on it by Friday, write down the necessary steps for Monday through Thursday, and have him or her check them off as completed. Set a timer for each part to keep your child on track. 

 

Encourage organization. Being organized minimizes opportunities for a child to procrastinate or get off task. Help your child make use of a planner to keep track of homework and other obligations and his or her daily schedule. At home, establish a routine with set times for homework, friend time, bedtime and extracurricular activities. It’s important to incorporate downtime into the schedule, too.

Take breaks. Researchers have found that children who take exercise breaks during school are more attentive and on task than those who do not. When studying, have your child take 5- and 10-minute "brain breaks" to move around or take a quick walk up and down the street.

Minimize distractions during homework. Make sure your home has a good study space. If your child studies in the kitchen, for example, make sure he or she isn’t distracted by things like a television, a younger sibling playing noisily or a parent talking on the phone. If he or she studies in a bedroom, be sure all electronics are off.

Work on task completion in day-to-day duties. At home, give your child clear direction on to-dos and make sure he or she completes each task before moving on to another. For example, when you get home from school, tell your child to wash hands and empty and put away his or her lunch box. Those tasks must be completed before moving on to anything else. As your child improves task completion (without frequent reminders), give him or her more complex, multi-step tasks. Consider a chore and rewards chart.

As always, it is important to know your student and adapt to his or her learning style and preferences. Some students might focus better during study time by playing with a small stress ball, standing or pacing around the room, or talking through concepts or problems aloud. Pay attention to your child’s needs and work with his or her teacher to accommodate those needs at home. If you are concerned that your child’s focus issues are medical in nature, talk with his or her doctor. However, if your child needs help with organization, time management, study skills and similar areas, contact Huntington. We can help your child become a more attentive, effective student. 

 

 Dr. Raymond J. Huntington and Eileen Huntington are co-founders of Huntington Learning Center, which has been helping children succeed in school for more than 30 years. 

Huntington at the Lake Travis Education Gala

On March 1st, Lake Travis Education Foundation held their annual gala to raise money for their many scholarships and support that they offer to the students of Lake Travis. As one of the sponsors, we are proud to support an organization that does so much for the many students in our community.

The gala was attended by Michelle Benavides, Assistant Director; Sherry and Jim Huffman, Owners; and Cathy Benavides, Social Media and Marketing Director.

This year the theme was Roaring Twenties and lots of people were in their best 20's garb, including Sherry!

Part of our sponsorship included giveaways in the silent auction. We included two packages; one for exam evaluation, and one for tutoring time. We hope the winners enjoy their packages!

Sorry for the blurriness - it was an exciting night!

We met lots of wonderful people, enjoyed the music and the dancing, and most of all, supported a great organization. Thank you Lake Travis Education Foundation - we're already looking forward to next year!

Helping Your Child Be More Organized

Today we're sharing a post from founder Dr. Raymond J. Huntington. Just like with your office, your grocery list, and your iPod playlists, organization helps your student get more work done more effectively.

Good study habits and organizational skills can mean the difference between a successful student and a poor performer. A student who possesses the intellect to do well in school but lacks the organizational skills may easily fall behind and suffer from poor grades--especially as the workload in school increases and his or her schedule becomes more demanding. On the other hand, a child who struggles in school already and has trouble keeping track of assignments or is constantly losing things may find school challenges even more insurmountable.

Here are a few tips to help your child become a more organized student:

Establish a homework routine. Studies show that set routines and schedules are positive for children. Your after-school and evening routine should include a set time for homework, dinner, extracurricular activities and bedtime. During homework time, your child should begin by making a to-do list of his or her top priorities for the session, and he or she should check off items as completed. Your child’s study space should be free from distractions and stocked with the supplies needed so that your child can quickly dive into each homework session.

Image via etsy

Make use of a planner, homework notebook or planner app. One of the most common issues with disorganized students is not that the students are incapable of doing homework, but rather, they forget or lose track of what they are supposed to work on each evening. Your child should have a simple notebook in which to write down the following--each and every day:

- Each class/subject
- Homework assigned for each class (or "no homework")
- Upcoming test/quiz dates or projects mentioned by the teacher

Check this notebook every night to ensure all work that is assigned is being completed at home. If your child is old enough to make effective use of a planner/calendar, teach him or her to block out time on the daily calendar for all commitments (school, activities, work, studying, dinner and sleep) and write down all upcoming tests, quizzes and projects on the appropriate calendar dates.

For students who use smartphones or tablets, consider a student planner app such as myHomework or iStudiez Pro, which each allows students to track homework, tests, projects and lessons, receive reminders for upcoming tests and assignments, and manage their class and life schedules. The better your child is at time management, the more prepared he or she will be for high school and college academics.

Image source

Make checklists. Introduce routines for all chores and tasks in your household and create checklists to help your child get familiar with the necessary steps. This also will help your child become more independent and confident and give him or her a sense of responsibility and fulfillment.

For example, a morning checklist might include picking out clothes and getting dressed, brushing teeth, making the bed, putting pajamas in the laundry basket, brushing hair, preparing the backpack, refilling the water bottle, making lunch and so on. Show your child that good organization is important in everything that he or she does.

Make tidying up a nightly activity. Every study or homework session should be followed by five minutes of putting away supplies, straightening the desk and getting the backpack ready for the next day. Get your child into the habit of finishing each homework period this way.

Effective organization is an asset that will help your child as a student and a person throughout his or her life. Work on this skill at home and talk with your child’s teacher about the specific areas that seem to need the most improvement. As your child embraces this skill, studying and homework will become much more fluid processes--and your child will have the tools to be a more independent, successful student.

Dr. Raymond J. Huntington and Eileen Huntington are co-founders of Huntington Learning Center, which has been helping children succeed in school for more than 30 years.