From the Deputy 

Maintaining Attention

Research tells us that children can struggle to pay attention during learning tasks for various reasons.  Some experts suggest that the average child should be able to concentrate on one task for 2 - 5 minutes multiplied by their age.  That means an average 6 year old should be able to focus for between 12 to 30 minutes. 

Other factors which can impact attention span include interest in the task, individual skill of the student and the ability to filter out distractions.  

For our families engaged in Distance Learning, you may have concerns about your child's ability to stay on task and complete the set learning tasks.  Before you begin to worry too much consider some of the following suggestions as ways you can assist your child to maintain their attention for periods of time.

• Include Physical Activity
  • Some children just need more regular movement breaks.  This could include stretching, running on the spot, skipping, going outside to bounce a ball or doing some star jumps.
• Adjust Time Frames
  • Break the task into smaller chunks and then put on a timer on for a set period of time.  This will help your child feel that the task is more manageable and it will ensure that they are not sitting still for too long.
• Remove Visual Distractions
  • Remove unnecessary clutter and visual experiences from the workspace. This gives the child fewer excuses for not focusing on the task at hand.

With best wishes,

Peta Overbury

Deputy Principal