It’s no surprise: attention spans have taken a big hit. They are shorter today than ever before. Kids today do not listen to their parents, teachers, or elders as well as they did in previous generations. Websites and videos all over the Internet claim to provide secrets to helping parents get their kids to pay attention. It’s usually the predictable advice: integrating physical activity, removing distractions, breaking up larger assignments into smaller pieces, providing a diversity of different learning tools, and so forth.
Unless we believe that children have all the answers, then this shortened attention span does not bode well for humanity. Certainly, young people bring an energy and a fresh perspective that adults may lack. They have an intuitive understanding of technology and a responsiveness that suits the times. Old geezers and grannies do not have all the answers. And yet, one human lifetime is too short and our worlds are too complex for you to believe you can learn everything through your own firsthand experience.
The Demise of Attention Spans
Previous generations relied on the young having some deference to old age. Young people appreciated the wisdom of their parents and grandparents, knowing their lessons were learned through experience. This pattern continues in countries that remain fairly poor and undeveloped, where the benefits are clearer from these kids learning lessons they can apply soon enough. Some of them are put to work at an early age to clean, cook, weave baskets, or catch fish. But in so-called advanced countries, children are less interested in learning from their elders.
When you don’t internalize some of the lessons learned by others, it takes longer to understand human behavior. You are doomed to repeat past mistakes, miss patterns, and squander opportunities that the wisdom of your elders would have taught you to recognize. You may be sentenced to a meaningless life of playing video games in your basement on someone else’s dime.
Changing the Message, Not the Children
So if children won’t listen, then how exactly are we supposed to effectuate the transfer of knowledge that must take place from one human generation to the next?
The answer, according to some researchers who have been studying this problem (and reported in the by National Public Radio (NPR) in the link below), is fairly simple. But to address the issue, we first need to be clear that the kids are not the problem. Whatever the cause of their shorter attention spans (TV, computer games, dual income families, growing up in a complex world), the solution is not to try to “fix” these kids. Without changing the world around them, most approaches to “fixing” children are doomed to failure.
Instead, these researchers found that the message (or its delivery, if you want to think of it that way) can be fixed. When that message suits them, then children WILL listen to the content that an adult is trying to teach. And fixing the message does not mean dumbing it down or breaking up the content into bite-sized pieces. The grand solution, which these researchers proved to be effective, was to…
Give the Child Some Autonomy
Respect the child by giving him or her some freedom. Put that child in charge of making an important decision: deciding to listen. And when you give the kids a reason to listen, then they will (make that choice to) listen.
This is much like the children in indigenous societies. They are taught it’s important for them to help with chores, such as cleaning and cooking. In Mexico and Guatemala, there are indigenous Mayan families where children actually ask to help. They make the decision to help.
And researchers found that (U.S.) Americans can be similarly motivated. From young children to college students, people will pay better attention if they are given some incentive. And that incentive does not need to be money or candy. It can be as simple as: “If you finish the task sooner, you’ll get to go home sooner.”
It’s a form of autonomy. Rather than managing their time and their attention, we turn it over to them. We let them take control of their mind’s attention. And they make the decision what to do with it.
Three Steps to Motivating Kids
So how can parents motivate their children? The NPR article turns to cognitive psychologist Mike Esterman. First, he recommends asking your kid one question: “What would you do if you didn’t have to do anything else?” You must discover their passion, or at least the activity they most want to pursue right now. Second, you make time for their activity in their schedule. And third, you use that as a carrot, as an incentive, to motivate them to complete their homework or whatever task you need them to complete.
Researchers found that letting kids make the decision to focus on the task not only improved results. Their brains worked completely differently. There was more brain activity taking place on more pathways. They paid attention and they got their work done.
So each time I find myself TELLING my kids what I want them to do…instead I will begin by ASKING them what they want to do.
References (quotes are from last link below):
https://www.edutopia.org/discussion/7-ways-increase-students-attention-span
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/06/09/616928895/how-to-get-your-kids-to-do-chores-without-resenting-it
https://letgrow.org/how-come-maya-children-are-twice-as-good-at-paying-attention-as-u-s-kids/
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2018/06/21/621752789/a-lost-secret-how-to-get-kids-to-pay-attention
Images are public domain.
Being a school teacher, for me it is the most important thing to know the basic needs and psyche of my students. What actually they want and specifically in what way. It's been three years i am working in an education department and I found that you have to locate their interests, the way they want to listen. It conveys the things in a very perfect way.
These three wonderful steps are gonna help me to improve my teaching methodologies, how wonderful <3
Thanks lot for this amazing blog @donkeypong :)
I'm glad you appreciate it. The ideas are not mine originally; I'm merely explaining the research and advice as I understand it. We all work to be as good as we can for our kids!
There is no doubt every Parent/Teacher tries his/her level best to set the best examples for the kids :)
thanks this important lesson for parents today.
which you said above is true. the child's mindset has now grown. One example, they are very fast and astute in learning gadgets.
Oh yes, my friend, from the very childhood we learned to respect the opinion of our child, not imposing our own taste and decision, offered him a choice from the moment when he became able to do it. We tried, under certain restrictions, to grant him this freedom. We go to a kindergarten, and which way - he decides. What should he wear - within the limits of the weather, which on the street - he chooses himself from the proposed by us. Naturally, the child can make a choice only after he understands and evaluates each of the options. Our task was to find and offer both options that were initially attractive and safe for him.
And now he was learning to defend his opinion. He understood perfectly well that Papa and Mama possessed authority, strength, and perhaps even realized that they were right, but it was important for him to do as he saw fit. It does not matter if this option was a mistake or not, he wanted to make mistakes and decide for himself how it would be better for him. For him, it was important that adults understand that next to them is not a kid, but an equal in the level of a friend or friend. The child had to see himself in the new quality of an adult. Thank you @donkeypong
@donkeypong, That's very interesting and currently very important contents to me coz I was a father 2 weeks ago. Currently society ( parents) very busy with their working and very difficult to find free sometime both father and mother. Also haven't time for take care of their child. So lot of children going away for find their love. Finally can be child abuse. That's very dangerous situation. So listen and take sometime for telling them what's way they want to go on and how to be protect from current society. Every days stay with them very closely.
Yep..That's another greatest way to respect our child. They want to serious love and listen their likes and dislikes, daily tasks of them. So listening wanna more important for show our love to children. Thanks for shared valuable content Tom.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment.
Incredible. When we watch these senerio on TV, we begin to wonder if it's true. Oh yes in the western world it's true.
Here in Africa has its own way of getting children to listen to you. In old days, the pattern was terrible. I remember how I got disowned and slept outside the house because I told my dad I wanted to be dance entertainment . It did not stop until they realize I was so serious with that decision and it was making good wave for me. My parents began to realize that children of new age are to listened to, then guide their decision with advice and prayers.
So I was allowed to read theatre arts in the University which I am very happy with
That's a great story. Thanks for sharing.
The young minds have the zeal whereas the old parents have the experience , the mix of the two is the best thing that can happen. Letting the kids to decide and supervising them gives a fruitful result and also, the kids learn the tricks to succeed. The calm approach of the parents to supervise the kids in their decision help the kids to understand the pros and cons and make them more attentive which builds them for a bright future. The best way to parenting is to let the kids perform and just keep your eyes on them to guide and supervise.....that what i feel..
There is a lot of great advice there. Especially "don't change the kids, change the message" that's so true (know your audience).
It sounds so simple and logical but it's something that could totally pass unnoticed.
Plus, why enter in a struggle (you trying to change the other person, the other person naturally resisting to change) while you could just change the delivery of the message.
Great post!
It becomes a battle of wills, which is unwinnable in the end. Some of that is unavoidable, since everyone is an individual, but listening and providing positive reinforcement seems a better way for some of it.
This is my quest this very moment. My son doesn't pay attention when I'm talking to him. There are complaints from teachers saying "there's something about him " and seeing the teachers nail marks on his arm do my head in. Not being with my son for a long time change his behaviour and I know I'm responsible for it. Now I'm trying to keep him right and yes I will start it from his surroundings. I'm still having a hard time but hopefully, we can get back on track. I want him to be a good man when he gets old. All mothers wish I believe.
Thanks for this post. I really appreciated. The first post after my break, awesome!
You sound like a very good mother and you care deeply about your son. Use the time well, do some things he wants to do, and perhaps try to explain to him why you must be busy with other things some of the time. Best of luck to you.
♥
Hello how are you? This is a great topic, the children of before and the children of now are totally different. I always tell my teenage daughter that she is only 12 years old and she thinks that she is already 18 and I always talk to her about how things used to be and that everything changed, the world and technology away from our children, but it is up to us as parents to integrate into their world to know what they love, what they like, it is unfortunate that some parents prefer that their son spend all day stuck to a computer or a cell phone and they do not get their attention in the best way for them to share with them.
I really liked your post today and you give very good advice.
I send you greetings and a big hug from Venezuela
That's a very clear explanation. Well said!
Thank you very much!
That’s true! However, as you mentioned in advanced countries with advance technology most parents are just not that well experienced. Usually children happen to educate their parents. Or parents can even be motivated by their children as you mentioned. Let the children have a bit of a freedom and what is very important for parents is to listen to their children. Find out what motivates them.
Great point about “how to raise today’s children!”.
All parents learn 'on the job' so none of us is perfect. :)
there is not a manual for parents each one does it in their own way how do you think is better
There is a certain thing about the children today, they tend to learn faster, easier than the adult, they are been exposed to various of norms around the nature through computers, video games, watching films, visiting youtube and all sought, they have developed so much widened brain on technology. Through all these experience gathered on internet, we dont expect their belief or their perspective based on a particular thing to just be corrected or changed by the parent.
Dear Parent, if you want to be a very good friend to your children, the best thing is to listen to them, trying to hear them out and dont push them away. We have individual differences on how to scope our children to spill what is it is going through with him or her.
Take them on a picnic, vacations, take them to resorts, buy things for them, there you can ask what you need to know and what you want them to do.
@donkeypong, this post to me is very great, which the limit shouldnt be limit to steemit alone, it has to be generally known to the parents out there..
God bless your thinking @donkeypong
That is a very good observation and excellent advice. Thank you.
i have an almost 1.5 year old. Since he is quite small, How can i apply this? for example when he is screaming to get something he wants eg he is screaming for his favourite fruit of strawberries during dinner. for us he can have strawberries but only after eating his dinner. what choices do we give? Another one is he throws his cup or anything in his sight if he does not get his way. What do I do then? he never listens if i say not to throw no matter how nicely i tell him. What choices in this case? Thanks!
Unfortunately, I'm not an expert. For tasks, I saw this advice and am passing it along, but I'm just a normal parent who faces the same struggles as you and others do. Rewards are appropriate in some circumstances, but probably punishment is necessary in others.
I'm a little late coming here, but such is my life lately :) It was a post that I needed to comment on...finally, a word to all the hovering helicopter parents out there.
You know when I was teaching, I switched my tactic altogether in the last 10 or so years to one of 'allowing' the students to choose their area of interest when working on projects etc., and I received some of the best work of my entire career. I had kids bringing their hawk trainer and the bird to show off their skills, a girl doing a fantastic belly dance with swords in my classroom, a boy taking us to the dance studio to show us the choreography he'd made...amazing amazing stuff.
My son was also a very determined toddler, and I tried the "hard line" with him, telling him what to do. I eventually learned to give him choices, both ending in the same place, but one always made him feel like he was running his own show. Happy mom, happy kid :)
Thank you so much for this post! I hope it doesn't fall on deaf ears.
(I also wanted to say thank you again for your continued support on my posts. I can't really express how it makes me feel when I see it :)
I saw helicopter parent and just had to comment back to you, Lynn! Guilty here! 😂 I actually never knew of the term until others told me about it, boy, did I feel like a hovering mommy. My little girl is learning to walk right now and it's so hard to let go of her hands. Trying to learn to let them grow and find their own identity since I definitely don't want to be one of those clinging moms. They just grow up so fast, sigh*.
I don't mean to intrude here. I was checking out another steemmonsters fiction writer's blog and she has this post resteemed. Being a parent, it caught my eye!
No intrusion whatsoever @beeyou! Here's my thought for what it's worth: You've got to let them fall, or they never learn to pick themselves back up ❤️ Literally and figuratively. Let her fall, let her fail, she'll be a better, stronger, more independent women for it. Just like her mom!😅
I know @lynncoyle1 . Just this morning, grandpa let my little one play with a trick or treat basket. She puts it over her head and I try not to cringe when I see it hitting her face. She must love it though because she kept doing it! 😂 Thanks for the sweet words.
aww it sounds like she's having fun :)
You are most welcome!!
If you would like to support the educational community by delegating to @steemiteducation, please click on any of the following links. This will ensure that more teachers are supported on a daily basis.
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Great advice @donkeypong
I have taken a few Child Education courses that teach the same principles.
It really works when you let your children make the decision in ANYTHING they wish to do or you wish them to do.
My ex-wife used to get pissed-off with me.
She would say; "Tristen tells me you let him do what ever he wants when he's with you?"
I tell her; I give him 3 choices all choices that are ok with me Tristen chooses and thus believes he is making the decisions.
It's called Loving Manipilation .
I think the reduction of attention span in children is a combination of what you mention here but also a reflect on how education has changed over the years, when you where a kid, did you pay attention because you wanted too or because you knew there would be consequences for breaking the rules?
Positive reinforcement works wonders to help on this but put too much and you get a spoiled kid, some sort of punishment is required when breaking rules but parents don't do it, I'm not telling you to hit your kid, this ain't the 60s but parents these days ground their kids and due to kids begging and parents not having will power, they concede! I wish my mom was like that when I was young, but she once grounded me for 3 months for raising my voice against her... these days I've seen kids shouting at and hitting their parents and they do nothing... which then makes the kid push for worse behaviors.
Absolutely. I think this post's advice applies more to project-oriented tasks, getting things done. Positive is best when it works. But in general for behavior, some lines must be drawn. And those consequences need to be communicated clearly.
I’m going to read this properly later, but a quick skim and I wonder if you actually have children or work with children. Or is this entirely from a researcher’s point of view?
Oh yes, I'm definitely a parent of two. I'm merely passing along this research that I encountered; it isn't my professional interest. Any parent looks for ways to be better so maybe I can share what I'm learning.
Excellent. It’s always good to know the background of the author and where this information is coming from to give some context. Thank you.
I’ll be back to read later. I think it was you who wrote on immortality previously, and this week, some parenting.
At this rate, I’ll never need to get of steemit, when I can get all my topics of interest provided on this platform. :)
They say that charity begins at home.
This pattern continues in countries that remain fairly poor and undeveloped, where the benefits are clearer from these kids learning lessons they can apply soon enough. Some of them are put to work at an early age to clean, cook, weave baskets, or catch fish. But in so-called advanced countries, children are less interested in learning from their elders.
This is so true especially here in Uganda where we grew up under strict supervision of parents and some how we have learnt to face the world the hard way.
This is a must read to all!
Thanks for sharing @donkeypong
Most parents i see do not talk to their kids, they talk at their kids as if they are an animal to be controlled. The other issue is a person learns through intruction and explanation or example. Many parents i observe working retail do not set a universally good example. The last issue issue is that many parents view their children as property to be forcefully obedient instead of a sentient individual slowly learning the world around them and the parent is simply a guide to help them develope their logical reasoning. This does not produce an independent free thinking individual to engage, cooperate, & if necessary amend in the various social, civic and business power structures for the betterment of the common good rather than be mindless dogs in a machine. This should be the objective of both parenting and school curriculum.
Hi sir @donkeypong, I am also a father of two kids and I've learned a lot in your article, especially in asking the kids what they would want to do:
I will ask this question to my children and from there I could give it as their incentive...Thank you sir for sharing. From now on I will be reading all your contents.
don't wait to tell your kids several times to do something. Stand up and grow a spine and be a parent and not their friend. Take their toys, electronics, etc. Make them do chores. Teach them that they have to earn what they are given, and they have to appreciate it or they will get it taken from them. Ground them. Teach them that if they want to be treated like they're not a child (when they're teens, otherwise they ARE children and they have no choice in the matter), then they need to act like they're not children. Tell them no FROM THE TIME THEY ARE BABIES. Otherwise, you will confuse them when you let them do something because it's "cute", then all of a sudden they can't and they won't know why and they will rebel. Teach them that respect is earned, (be nice to someone and they will be nice to you) and manners are a requirement. Teach them that respecting elders and authority is REQUIRED. BE FIRM that YOU are the parent and they are the child, and in some things they HAVE NO CHOICE. And last, make sure your kids KNOW you love them, and stop fucking replacing your love and attention with game systems, TV's, etc... and if they get themselves into trouble, THEY DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCES. they want to adult and act like they know everything, let them get themselves out of it and let them figure out that they DEFINITELY don't have a clue
Basically every kids start learn from their parents in house. So since first time child born time mother listen to child everytime. If kid want something mother giving to her kid. It's listen connectivity of child and mother. After coming child, 6 or 7 years they ask and beg for their likes. Probably kid don't know his/ her parent too poor. So if don't buy asked thing, kid getting cry and huge shout. But you can clearly showing your family condition and listen kids likes they can be silence and pay attention.
Remember that adorable chatty child who not long ago hung lovingly on your every word and considered you her number-one pal and confidant? Now she often seems like a glassy-eyed pre-tween who's turned ignoring you into an art form and transformed even the simplest request ("Please turn off the TV" or "Put your socks in the hamper") into an exercise in mind-numbing repetition.
Your child isn't deliberately trying to drive you insane (successful though she may be), and her maddening new behavior has more to do with her sense of self than how she feels about you.
The stage of childhood is everything, the children are shaped to be professionals in the future, the truth is that you have to be more dynamic at the time of teaching them, making the topic more entertaining having a positive response from the child, then other dynamics are taken as the child begins his adolescence.
Every relationship has power struggles. The key is to be in control of oneself and only state what is needed in a loving manner. The consequences of the individual trying to manipulate or trying to gain power over you, be it consciously or not, can only be obtained if you decide to not control your emotions and think before dealing with the situation at hand. Example: Wife wants the husband to take out the trash. She asks him to take out the trash. He replies, "I will in just a moment." Wife asks again 30 minutes later. Husband replies, "I will as soon as _________ is over." 1 hour later wife yells at husband to take out the trash or he can make his own breakfast and lunch on his workdays. SEE? Same tyoe of thing. What can you do? 1. Ask once in a nice voice."Dear/Honey can you please take out the trash so that I can mop the kitchen floor?" If he says, "I will in just a moment." Then say "Please give me an exact time so that I know when itvwill be done so that I can mop the floor. If the floor is not mopped before I go to bed then I will have to do it tomorrow and will not have tge time to make your cofee, breakfast and lunch." This way he knows you are givung the ultimatum but you are still loving. If he does not take out the trash and you do it the next morning then mop the floor. DO NOT make his coffee, breakfast or lunch. BELIEVE ME IT WORKS!! If you do make his coffee, breakfast, and lunch normally. So everyone no matter what the relationship is this works if you find that the other person ignores you until you are yelling at them.
Very very important post sir .I am happy.i like this post. thank you sir.
Thank you so much for sharing. This is wonderful information and I'm going to use it. One thing though, I do the most yelling when I'm physically unable to get to the child to physically intervene when necessary. For example when I'm nursing the baby and the 2 year old isn't obeying. I try giving them the two choices but they have to be something not involving me physically. Sometimes the baby's almost asleep and if I get up, put the baby down to deal with it, the 2 year old might finally obey but then the baby's awake! Any suggestions?
Throw away just in case
Let me start by saying I love my child, no matter what. Her actions disappointed me, which may be splitting hairs, but anyway: Technically my stepdaughter. I never planned/wanted kids, but fell in love with a man who had sole custody of his 9 year old daughter, and realized pretty immediately that I loved her too. Bio-mom is a dangerous narcissist (both husband and kid have scars from stab wounds she inflicted) who has made 0 attempt to be in my kid's life since the divorce. Over the last 9 years my husband and I have worked hard to raise an intelligent, thoughtful, caring young adult. We've tried to nurture a healthy home life. Obviously, she and he were both in therapy following the split from her bio-mom and they both seemed to thrive. We do not speak negatively about her bio-mom. When she makes attempts to reconnect with her bio-mom, we are supportive and (inevitably) reassure her when those efforts are rebuffed. Both my husband and I want her to have a life full of positive experiences. We encouraged her to pursue extracurriculars and she seemed to innately pick up on instruments, dance, technical skills (she was an A student in AP Chem without even trying), etc. We rebuilt car engines with her and taught her to dance the Charleston for a school play. We have focused our income and energies on raising an engaged adult. When my husband was laid off, I got a second job, working 80 hours a week, so we could continue to support her extracurriculars while still saving for her college fund and, you know, pay bills. One of her extracurriculars was pageantry. Totally not my thing, but some of her friends had gotten into it and she wanted to try it out. Ok cool. I don't know if you're aware, but there is literally NO way to do a pageant on the cheap. Even with her dad making a couple of her costumes, we had poured over a grand into this. She needs one more dress and we were clear: You have to keep it under $500. There is literally no $$ left after that. She found her "perfect" dress that exceeded the budget by a few hundred. We said no. She goes to her bio-mom who's on husband #5 and quickly burning through his $$. Bio-mom buys the dress. Husband and I are actually pretty surprised and relieved (keep in mind, she doesn't pay child support or speak to our kid, so we weren't expecting much follow-thru there). Night of the pageant, one of the things all the contestants do is write up a bio of the people who supported them and helped make them who they are. They get to my kid and begin reading this beautiful piece she's written about her mom...her bio-mom...and all the "sacrifices" she made to raise her and her siblings (she has 2 half-siblings, neither of whom live with the bio-mom) and on and on...I was shell shocked. Most of her friends' parents in the audience are looking at me in confusion because no one's actually met her bio-mom before. I'm the one at every game, volunteering on all the booster clubs and sitting in PTA meetings. A few of them came to talk to me after, (kid placed first runner-up, BTW), saying how that wasn't right, etc. and I put on my smile and just reiterated how we want her to have a positive relationship with her bio-mom.
This actually just happened recently. I'm still heartbroken and trying very hard not to be. I love my child. That doesn't change. But I'm also disappointed.
amazing post donkeypong thanks for sharing:)
this is a brilliant article. i agree with your point but the sad part is that half of society feels that kids are incapable of making that decision. some arent, because thats one of the many things we dont teach in school - how to make a good decision, how to think critically. it might be the place to start.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful article makes us think and reflect a lot on something so vulnerable that is the theme of children, really my regards and my true support with my vote thank you very much and God bless you.
Thanks! I do need a different strategy talking to my kid, nowadays there is a lot of occasions where he seems to just ignore what I say or even when I call his name.
How old are your kids?
Very very important post sir .I am happy.i like this post. thank you sir.
I am not yet a parent but I find this topic interesting. It is really important to put weight on the wants of the child and do some bargaining about it. I think technology has got to do as to how kids listen to their parents. I have seen various experiments on it.
I am pretty sleepy while typing this but I hope I was stoll able to express my thoughts correctly. 😁
Indeed. The most important thing is to give freedom to our children.
Otherwise they don't behave like children, they will fight for their freedom.
When parents give advice to children, often parents need to repeat the request several times. Not that the child can not hear what is being said. But they like not paying attention and too preoccupied with its own activities. The following tips for children want to hear the advice of parents.
Speak with the use of eye contact. It is not effective if parents give orders by shouting from the next room or pacing back and forth. Make sure the child has given full attention before the parents say something. If necessary, ask for permission for the child to temporarily suspend his activity, in order for parents to have a chance to speak. Align your body with your child, so parents can see both eyes of the child while delivering a request or order. The interaction will keep the child focused on listening, and distract from other activities.
Speak phrases with polite language. Use the word please when asking for something. Give an easy explanation for the child. Instead of banning things, tell them what they want them to do. Say thanks after the child does what is required. Plus positive labeling as a supporting word, such as: responsible, helpful, diligent and others.
I remember a good verse in the bible that in the last days perilous times will come.
2 Timothy 3
King James Version with Strongs Dictionary (KJVStr)
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
I believe that in every family there are problems with children, when we talk too much and for nothing. This kind of problems were also when I was a child. Parents tend to believe it is the children's fault without thinking that they are also not sending the right messages properly. What you presented in your article makes a lot o sense though.
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I think that children get much sence from our surrounding nowaday.
This is excellent information, @donkeypong. My son had attention deficit disorder and he was completely bored in school. It took me a while to find out what his passion was and then I could get him to read and concentrate on sports and any kind of numbers game.
Parenting is sometimes a lot of trial and errors. He is almost the same way as an adult.
Excellent post
Inattention is on the rise as you mentioned and this is evidenced by increasing diagnosis of ADHD
Not sure for now if there could be mutations but changing the environment certainly helps.
You have touched on an important point here. There are way too many people out there, educators included, who seek to change the kid. All kids are capable of paying attention and learning if the environment and parameters suit them and their needs. We need to find ways to actively engage kids and make them want to be part of their learning. I like your comment about asking rather than telling. We can guide them rather than force and have better results.
@donkeypong, For sure job of parenting is really difficult and because it's an sensitive job and it is most vital aspect too because if parenting is not done well, then for sure in future, children can step over or can divert from their true path.
And in many cases in history we saw that due to lack of parenting essence children chose wrong track and they went into the phase of darkness so it's really important to understand the reality.
And it's not small responsibility because here parents have to pass all Good thought to children because they are the future generation and message for the future generation is really vital to see the growth of whole world.
Another important thing is, never force anything and let children choose which path they want and if they want to follow some good and passion then for sure let them walk because who knows on that path they can create wonders.
Wishing you an great day and stay blessed. 🙂
This is a great educational article that you can consider placing under the steemiteducation tag as well. I agree short attention span can be a problem. Children are used to fast moving information due to the advancement of technology. As parents and teachers, we can give them choices like you mentioned. We can also make use of technology as a tool for education rather than shifting the lack of attention and engagement due to technology. The area of weakness can be turned into an area of strength if we know how to ride on it.
Wow! I'm not yet a parent, but watching my almost six month old niece grow has taught me a lot. Another thing I think which makes children not listen is if the parent or guardian also don't listen or if they contradict themselves, their actions being different from their words.
Generally we become by beholding, and so if a child sees it long enough, he or she becomes it. The problem is that we don't know how long 'long enough' is, so it has to be a lifestyle. That's why children sometimes prefer car keys or remotes to their toys. They don't see you play with the toys you give them, instead you are always with the keys, phones or remote control.
They follow what they see. Most times.
I want to be a mummy, but each day I am reminded of the huge responsibility parenting is.
Well done to all good parents!
I found using technology to get their attention works well. It also works when instructing adults. Using a computer to teach and also have short 30 second video clips and interesting images and charts generally holds people attention.
Letting the kids to determine and supervising them offers a fruitful end result and additionally, the youngsters research the hints to be successful. The calm approach of the mother and father to supervise the children of their choice assist the youngsters to apprehend the pros and cons and lead them to more attentive which builds them for a vivid destiny. The high-quality way to parenting is to allow the children carry out and just keep your eyes on them to manual and supervise.....that what i feel..
In this century children have their own right to choose whatever they want without permission, and force their parents to give whatever they want.