Mica Paris:

New research shows that children who have too many toys are more easily distracted, and that’s not all that’s vying for their attention. Emma explains how to teach little people to focus

“I feel incredible after losing 2st!”

In the past I I have definitely fallen prey to buying my boys far too many toys. I felt the pressure to provide them with pretty much every new game going. This carried on until they were around five years old, when I found myself trundling to the charity shop with boxes and boxes of unused playthings.

LESS IS MORE

Like me, you may have realised that your children’s attention spans struggle when they are surrounded by a plethora of different toys. And you may be unsurprised to learn that research suggests kids who have access to fewer games are more imaginative, focused and creative than those who have endless choices to select from. This is great news because it means that getting selective about the toys you give your kids benefits them in the long run. Children are very sensory-based, so they like the touch and feel of toys, and they love the space and time to engage in playful activity.

If you give them too many options and choices, you can actually overload their senses and this makes concentration all but impossible. It is far better to limit the amount of objects they have to play with, as this encourages them to be more resourceful with their imagination.

SLOW DOWN

In a world where you are constantly told you can have everything you want – right now – it is no easy feat to inspire patience in our children, but it’s a crucial life skill for them to establish.

When my boys were infants, I used board games and frustration puzzles to help them develop this characteristic. Taking turns, figuring things out, and losing were all key to forming a patient mindset. Getting your little ones outside to play with nature should also be part of your parenting toolkit, as it is clinically proven to reduce kids’ stress levels, increase wellbeing and help towards getting a restful sleep, along with the physical fitness health benefits. Children who see themselves as part of part of something “bigger” tend to be more imaginative, too.

LIMIT ONLINE GAMES

While computer games are popular, research shows that they can make kids more impulsive, and less empathic – the opposite traits required when developing patience, so restrict their cyber lives to a healthy level.

One of the most important things to remember is that what kids really need is time with you. The best bit about that is it doesn’t cost a penny, and you won’t end up with a load of unwanted plastic!