Have you noticed that your child has a short attention span lately? Think: spacing out, being grumpy when activities take too long, and enjoying activities with instant gratification more. I’ve compiled a list of 5 tips to use so you can figure out how to increase your child’s attention span.

Today, children get on smart phones, tablets and laptops for their daily play time and entertainment. The high influx of information, graphics and audio is highly stimulating. It makes children love fun activities that are fast-paced and bring instant satisfaction. This is reducing attention span.

While watching my adorable nephew use gadgets, I noticed that he loved watching YouTube videos to the point of crazy fascination. Of course, he also loved outdoor play or made up games. What saddened me was that I noticed him squinting while watching his much-loved musical rhymes. Technology usage with children needs to be regulated in order to increase attention span and protect their developing eyes.

Technology is great for so many things like research, entertainment, communication and fun. However, with children we need to be extra careful. Read on to find out how to increase your child’s attention span and keep your child safe from electronic gadgets.

How to Increase Your Child’s Attention Span

Below is my list of 5 ideas on how to increase your child’s attention span. Doing these activities will help your child to learn to enjoy things that take time to bring joy and happiness.

1. Engage your child in outdoor play

Attention span is increased by outdoor play. Children love playing. They love physical exercise. At this stage in their lives, all they do is fun and play. Take them outside the house, make up fun games, or teach them games you played as a child. You can visit parks and let them enjoy the fresh air and nature. This can be a great way for you to destress as well.

2. Increase your child’s reading time

Children today may have limited attention spans due to the way everything is presented to them. Children’s games and TV shows are fast paced and provide instant gratitude. They barely allow children to wait for their rewards. This is where reading comes in. It encourages children to sit through several chapters to reach the end. This is how it increases your child’s attention span.

3. Ensure that your child eats right

Certain foods are capable of increasing your child’s attention span. In general, you should provide your child with a balanced diet, complete with nutritional foods like fruits and vegetables. Studies show that foods like avocados, fatty fish and nuts are important for proper functioning of the brain. Eating right is a great idea for how to increase your child’s attention span.

4. Engage your child in meditation

Meditation is a great way to increase your child’s attention span. Meditation has immense benefits for the mind, for example, cognitive clarity, improved moods and inner peace. Children love trying out new things. Meditation can seem silly to them but it’s pretty interesting and engaging. Meditation is a fun activity that provides quality bonding time.

5. Create a no-technology day for your child

In order to increase your child’s attention span, shutting off all smartphones and electronic gadgets is important. We can’t live without our smartphones. This is pretty much an addiction. You need cut back on time spent on social media, games and other entertainment apps. Create a no-technology day so that your children can enjoy a regular day without any technology.

Start Increasing Your Child’s Attention Span Right Now

I’ve compiled this list on how to increase your child’s attention span because I believe that children need to grow up loving things that take time. My nephew is a pretty smart child and I love how he enjoys fun activities. Use these tips to increase your child’s attention span so that they too can enjoy the beauty of waiting for good things.