How to Improve Your Child’s Focus!

First let’s define what focus is. Focus is the ability to block out distractions and concentrate on the task at hand. There are many reasons for focus issues in children ranging from medical conditions to just simply not understanding what it means or how to focus.

At our Martial Arts Schools we discuss focus in the very first lesson using the definition above. Then we take a step further by comparing focus to a muscle. How is focus like a muscle? Well, when you use your muscles, they get stronger and better at the activities they’re used in. Focus works in the exact same way. The more a child focuses, the stronger their focus will get.

Now that we understand what focus is and that it can be improved let’s discuss the how! We teach the 4 Laws of Focus:

1. Focus Your Eyes.
2. Focus Your Ears
3. Focus Your Body
4. Focus Your Mind

When a student focuses their eyes, they are looking at whatever they are supposed to be focusing on. For example, when riding their bike, they need to watch where they’re going. However, if in math class they need to be watching the teacher’s eyes as they teach. Making eye contact shows respect and helps the child hear and learn more of the teacher’s lesson. We also ask student to work on building their focus muscles outside of class by forcing themselves to make eye contact when speaking to others.

Focusing their ears means tuning out unimportant sounds they hear and listening to what’s important such as a teacher or parents’ voice. In classes we use music which helps not only make classes fun and interesting but also helps student work on focusing on the instructor’s voice and letting music settle into the background.

We use a specific listening position in the first lesson which is similar to military attention stance. You know you’ve seen rows of soldiers on TV who are standing still awaiting orders. This is a great way to help kids learn to take control of their bodies. Other drills we use in classes include having kids perform physical movements which require each part of their body to be in a specific position, so they become aware. It’s defined in class as controlling our body as not to distract ourselves or others.

Last and most importantly Focusing Your Mind. We’ve all zone out before when listening to a lecture, watching TV or while on social media. Students are taught that in Karate class they should focus on Karate class not dinner afterwards. During math class they shouldn’t be thinking about lunch or recess they should be focused on the topic at hand.

Focus is a learned skill that improves over time and effort. Reenforcing these Four Laws of Focus will help your child understand how to focus.