Children have visible cues that show concentration. It happens at school and at play; take a peek! Iris, age 2 Signs like a tongue out, rocking, stillness, even a quickly moving leg can tell us that the child is focusing. It’s important to know what it looks like when your child or student is concentrating. Through recognizing this, we become aware of this vital learning skill for each individual. Once we learn the ways in which each child finds concentration, it is the adult's job to aid and protect it. Here are some simple ways to aid concentration in children: Don’t interrupt. A wise woman once told me; do not interrupt the focusing child unless you observe disrespect, danger, or destruction. I always run over that checklist in my head before engaging concentrating child. It can be a challenge for little ones to return to focus. Set the stage. Clear the clutter and prepare the environment . Children can h...
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I don't have a separate place for Bean, but some of her things aren't on this shelf. She keeps her movable alphabet in a higher spot, so her 3 year old twin sisters don't unsort them! She does a lot of work with art, science, and math in her room or outdoors. Plus, she's going to be in a full day K next year- giving her the summer 'off', but keeping all the classics out.
By work cycle, do you mean the process of choosing work, completing it, returning it? Or is it completing a work cycle of 3 hours?
Do you have any ideas how to work with J-jo (23 months) on increasing his concentration. Maybe I have too much out on the shelves and should just take a weekend to remove things (I like how you have just a few things) but he seems to just flit from thing to thing. He'll get excited, get something out, then just as quickly see something else and forget the first thing. Bear never did that, so I am at a loss for what to do. You can also answer me in an email if you prefer. thegirlwhopaintedtrees at gmail dot com.
Thanks.
If he doesn't love that, try making materials stationary, working right on a table or right on a mat. Littles have trouble traveling sometimes. I did a lot last year for the twins where they were just working right off the table- no need to travel.
Really though, he's little and his concentration has to develop on his own. Water usually works for tots, try adding more water!!!
Thank you for the link. Out of the five listed reducing clutter is the one we struggle most with. I also notice what I am doing while he is working in his studio effects his focus. It is hard with only one child. Today he spent a long time emptying a shelf, dusting it and then returning the work. He prefers work that he can explore and figure out for himself vs. work that is designed to be done as demonstrated. How do I am get him to focus on completing the task as demonstrated without interrupting him? Thank you!