06/09/2026
8 THINGS THAT MAY BE STEALING YOUR CHILD'S ATTENTION
Last time, we asked an important question: “What is making concentration difficult for this child?” It is important to know that a child who can't concentrate doesn't necessarily have ADHD. and sometimes the explanation may be much closer to everyday life.
Before thinking that a child is lazy, naughty, unmotivated — or has a disorder — here are 8 things worth investigating.
1. 😴 NOT ENOUGH SLEEP
This is probably one of the first places to look and one of the biggest causes of concentration issues. Children today are often sleep-deprived and a tired brain has to work much harder to pay attention, remember instructions and control impulses. Yet tired children don't always look sleepy. Some become restless, irritable, emotional or unusually energetic.
Ask yourself: Is bedtime consistent? Is your child actually sleeping, or are they awake with a device? Do weekends look completely different from school nights? Sometimes a concentration problem starts the night before.
2. 📱 TOO MUCH COMPETITION FOR THEIR ATTENTION
Children are growing up surrounded by extraordinary amounts of stimulation: Notifications. Short videos. Games. Messages. Television. Music. Multiple screens. Digital technology doesn't automatically cause attention disorders, and screens do not cause ADHD. But constant rapid stimulation can compete with activities that require slower, sustained attention.
Try creating periods when the brain isn't constantly being entertained. A little boredom isn't necessarily a problem. Boredom can be where imagination begins. This is also why Riverside MSU will be a device-free school. Learners will not be allowed to bring devices such as phones or tablets to school.
3. 😟 STRESS, WORRY OR ANXIETY
Imagine children trying to solve a maths problem while part of their brains is worrying about things happening at home or around them:
Are my parents fighting?
Will those children laugh at me again today?
What if I get this wrong?
Why isn't my friend talking to me?
A child may physically be sitting in the classroom while mentally being somewhere completely different. Sometimes what looks like poor concentration is actually a worried brain trying to manage too much at once.
4. 📚 THE WORK MAY BE TOO DIFFICULT
A child reads the first question. They don't understand it. They look around. They sharpen their pencil. They talk to someone. They ask to go to the bathroom.
We see distraction. The child may be experiencing avoidance. If concentration consistently disappears during reading, writing or maths but appears during other activities, it is worth asking whether there may be a learning difficulty or a gap in understanding.
5. 🥱 OR… THE WORK MAY BE TOO EASY
The opposite can happen too. A child who understood the concept ten minutes ago may struggle to remain engaged through another twenty examples of exactly the same thing. We shouldn't automatically interpret disengagement as inability. Sometimes children need greater challenge, not more repetition.
6. 🏃 THEIR BODY NEEDS TO MOVE
Children were not designed to spend most of their waking hours sitting still. Physical activity supports children's overall health and wellbeing, and movement can help many children return to a task feeling more alert and ready to engage. For some children, a short movement break can make a remarkable difference. Using strategies such as cooperative learning, movement, learning outside the classroom, brain breaks and braingym exercises form part of our teaching and learning approaches at Riverside. It doesn't take time away from learning, it promotes learning.
7. 🔊 THE ENVIRONMENT IS WORKING AGAINST THEM
The television is on. Someone is talking. A younger sibling is playing.vThe phone is beside the workbook. There are twenty things on the desk yet then we say: “Concentrate!”
Some children are much more sensitive to noise, movement and visual distractions than others. Before blaming the child's attention, change the environment and see what happens. At home, try a clear workspace, one task at a time and unnecessary devices out of reach.
8. 🧠 WE MAY BE ASKING TOO MUCH AT ONCE
“Go upstairs, get your shoes, put your homework in your bag, bring your water bottle down and don't forget your jersey.” Five minutes later: “WHY ARE YOU UPSTAIRS WITHOUT YOUR SHOES?”
Sometimes the problem isn't attention. It is the amount of information the child's working memory is being asked to hold at once.
Try to give one instruction, then the next. Break a large task into smaller steps. Use routines and visual reminders where appropriate.
You may be surprised by the difference.
🔎 TRY THIS BEFORE OUR NEXT CONVERSATION
For one week, become an attention detective. Don't simply record when your child can't concentrate. Notice when they CAN.
When?
Where?
For how long?
Doing what?
After how much sleep?
With whom?
In a quiet or busy environment?
After sitting for a long time or after moving?
Patterns matter. Instead of repeatedly saying: “PLEASE CONCENTRATE!”, we may discover something much more useful:
what helps this particular child concentrate. That is valuable information both parents and teachers can use.
COMING NEXT — PART 3: COULD IT BE ADHD?
We'll look more closely at what ADHD actually is, what it isn't, the signs professionals consider, why a child who can concentrate intensely on something they love may still have ADHD, and when parents should consider seeking professional advice.
Understanding before labelling. Supporting before judging.
