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The Major Cause of Lack of Concentration in Children

By Tess Thompson

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Getting distracted is normal for young children, but can prove to be a major problem when the child grows up and is unable to concentrate on academics and school work. Lack of concentration or an inability to focus on the task at hand is a common concern that many parents have. Irrespective of how bad the situation might seem, do not resort to conventional standards of performance at school. Comparison with other children should be avoided at all times.

Children have a lower attention span lose interest in an activity or object quickly. Keeping them occupied with work or something to do all the time is not an easy task. There are some major causes of lack of concentration in children that need to be considered before you start getting worried. Once deciphered, some of these causes can be tackled easily.

Fatigue remains one of the most common causes of lack of concentration. Children and teens are full of bubbly energy, and the adrenalin flow at times leads them to indulge in excessive physical activity, late nights and other such activities that tire them out. These activities often result in inadequate sleep and drowsiness in the morning, which can hamper concentration. Inadequate sleep also has serious emotional and physical repercussions that can even thwart efforts at improving concentration in your child.

In children, sometimes the inability to concentrate is linked to improper diet and unhealthy eating habits. Children need to eat a healthy diet and at proper times. Iron ranks as one of the primary elements whose deficiency can cause lethargy and behavioral changes in a child. Concentration problems may thus be a direct result of lack of energy in a child. Make sure that your child has a diet that provides sufficient amounts of trace elements, including iron.

If the child is not being taught what is of interest, there is a great likelihood of the child becoming indifferent to other subjects, as well. Many times, boredom stems from forcing a child to undertake meaningless jobs at home. Teachers need to explain the concept of lessons they teach so that the child can understand the reason why he is being asked to learn it. Such efforts can lead to interest in an activity or task that was earlier considered boring, whereas failure to do so can contribute to boredom and the inability to concentrate. At home, you can try to talk to your child to understand what interests him/her. Better still, find time and try to create opportunities so that your child can undertake the activities that he / she likes and finds interesting.

It has been observed that anxiety can also cause child concentration problems, as the young brain is unable to perceive situations and stimuli in their proper perspectives. A teenager’s anxiety may stem from a perceived threat, estranged relations at home, unrealistic parental expectations, sexual anxieties, or simply a broken friendship. You can help your children by discussing matters to build a strong bond.

References:

http://www.amazines.com/Education/article_detail.cfm/406058?articleid=406058
http://www.articlesbase.com/psychology-articles/causes-for-the-lack-of-concentration-in-children-311505.html
http://www.afic.org/lacking%20concentration%20maybe%20it's%20a%20lack%20of%20iron.htm