6 Focus Exercises for Kids: What Works Best?
Focus exercises for kids are activities that can help improve their ability to concentrate, pay attention, and stay on task. Here are six types of focus exercises for kids:
1. Mindfulness activities
Mindfulness activities such as deep breathing exercises, guided meditation, or yoga can help kids learn to focus their attention on the present moment. This article provides great resources for activities.
2. Memory games and jigsaw puzzles
Memory games like matching games or concentration can help improve kids' attention to detail and working memory. Jigsaw puzzles can help improve kids' attention to detail, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving skills.
3. Reading and storytelling
Encouraging kids to read books or telling them stories can help them develop their listening skills and ability to concentrate on a narrative. Kids who are read only one book a day will hear about 290,000 more words by age 5 than those who don’t regularly read books with a parent or caregiver.
4. Art activities
Drawing or coloring can help kids develop their ability to focus on fine motor skills and paying attention to details. From helping children develop an attention span to laying the foundation for important life skills, crafting is much more than just a quiet bit of fun for young kids.
5. Music activities
Listening to music, playing an instrument, or singing can help kids develop their ability to concentrate and focus on auditory stimulation.
6. Physical activities
Engaging in physical activities such as sports, yoga, or dance can help kids develop their ability to concentrate and focus on their body movements. In her research, Neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki found a single workout can improve a student’s ability to focus on a task for up to two hours. Exercise strengthens both the prefrontal cortex (which is involved in executive functioning) and the hippocampus (which plays a key role in memory and learning). In this way, exercise supports our ability to think creatively, make decisions, focus and retrieve key information.
Children may respond better to different types of focus exercises, so it's a good idea to try out a few different activities and see what works best for your child.
The Calm Caterpillar is also here to help! Learn more about the great products and classes that we offer, so that you, your students, or your children can get the most out of adding focus exercises and mindful movement into your routine. Visit The Calm Caterpillar today!
