Attention!

Parents, keep your kids focused and attentive with these tips from a brain fitness expert.

Easily distracted. That’s what many students are these days. When they turn on their gadgets and go online after school, for instance, they immediately forget the day’s lessons and neglect the homework or project that needs to be done, what with the gazillion games, apps, videos, and sites that beckon to be explored and enjoyed.

How then can moms and dads make their children more focused on academics and learning-related tasks, especially in today’s fastpaced, “high-tech,” and ever challenging world? Cheryl Chia, founder of BrainFit and the author of Fit Brains Learn Better: A Chronicle of 12 Years of Brain Fitness Training, supplied the answers—some of them simpler and more familiar than you think—during the parents’ forum “Building Attention and Memory” held at the Bayanihan Center of Unilab in Pasig City.

Here are her six focusboosting strategies for parents and their brood.

Exercise

Did you know that... ...exercises build the brain? Aerobic exercises like running, cycling, brisk walking, dancing, and swimming, in particular, stimulate release of chemicals that grow and strengthen brain cells.

...exercises which require you to focus closely on body movements work the attention system?

...a short 10 to 20-minute exercise can help increase mental focus instantly?

So encourage kids to get

Children of all ages should avoid exposure to devices and screens an hour before bedtime.

up and participate in physical activities during study breaks to recharge their bodies, refresh their minds, sharpen their attention, and learn more successfully.

Eat well

The brain needs energy to function well so never send your kids to school without having breakfast. Examples of “brain foods” you could feed them are whole grains (cereal or oatmeal), eggs, nuts, berries, seeds, wild salmon, avocadoes, tomatoes, red cabbage, spinach, green tea, bananas, dark chocolate, and dry beans. Do not overeat. High-calorie and high-fat diets can decrease concentration. Avoid sugary snacks like cookies, donuts, and soda that only offer a short energy boost.

Manage technology

Monitor and limit gadget use. Keep in mind that screen time before bedtime affects quality of sleep (from infants to grownups), and that children of all ages should avoid exposure to devices and screens an hour before bedtime. Because social media and gaming can be extremely addictive, teach children about “sense of time” early and develop the habit of monitoring time. Do the following as well: -Remove the TV or computer from your child’s bedroom.

-Forbid TV watching and gadget use during meals and study time.

-Do not leave the TV on for background noise. Turn on the radio instead, or have no background sounds at all.

-Decide which programs to watch ahead of time, and turn off the TV when the shows are over. Choose highquality programs and watch with your child.

-Suggest other activities such as family board games, puzzles, going for a walk, or doing chores together.

-Communicate the family’s media guidelines to grandparents, babysitters, and other caregivers so screen rules are followed consistently.

Remove distractions

Avoid multi-tasking since it creates frantic switching in the brain as you focus on each task for a few seconds at a time. Our brains simply cannot focus on two things simultaneously. Make sure that you have a conducive study environment, a clutter-free work area, and well-organized study materials. Turn off gadgets or keep them out of sight. Block off all other external distractions to improve mental focus. Set time or use a visual timer to complete a task.

Establish a routine

If possible, start homework at the same time every day. Have clearly-designated areas for study and play. Use checklists and timetables. Have regular meals and sleep times. Let your child come up with the plan or schedule (like a morning, after school, or bedtime routine) or involve him in the activity as much as you can.

Train the brain

While crossword puzzles, Sudoku, and similar word and mind games are good and healthy hobbies, Chia said they are not challenging enough if the goal is to improve brain performance or cognitive skills (attention, memory, speed). It’s important to choose programs that have been scientifically developed and proven, and training that adapts to performance and requires effortful attention. BrainFit follows the 80/20 rule recommended by neuroscientists, wherein the student can experience success when he completes 80 percent of the task, but is challenged to do more and build new connections with the remaining 20 percent. What’s more, BrainFit advocates whole-brain training for optimum learning, offering programs on moves, focus, emotions, listening, and vision, which are the five core brain pillars.

www.brainfitstudio.com; Facebook/BrainFit Studio Philippines