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If you have a kid who is struggling with focus and concentration issues, you know how hard it can be to get them to stop fidgeting and just concentrate! But what if I were to tell you that there are easy and fun ways to help improve your child’s concentration?
We now know that some toys and games can help improve focus and concentration in children, but they can only work if they focus on the development of specific skills.
Here is a quick guide with several options you may want to check out.
1) Toys for focus that help your child pay attention to small details
Any game or toy that can help your child spot hidden objects is great for developing their focus and concentration skills. A good example is Spot It! which is a great game your entire family will enjoy. Such games are also great for developing your child’s hand-eye coordination.
Activity books such as Where’s Wally? and hidden picture scratch art books are also great options that can help your child work on their concentration power. Mandalas cannot only help increase concentration, they are also effective against stress. You can make your own mandalas or get books here.
2) Concentration games and toys that help your child problem-solve
There are so many reasons why puzzles are great toys for focus for children. They increase their concentration, their problem-solving skills, their hand-eye coordination, and they also strengthen their fine motor skills.
If your child is between ages three and eight, they will love the SainSmart Jr. Tetris Puzzle which is not only attractive but also proposes different ways to play with the blocks.
When choosing your child’s puzzles, it is important to consider their interests and actual abilities. For example, don’t shy away from simple puzzles with fewer pieces if you child is just starting out using them, or if they find it really hard to concentrate.
Choosing 3D puzzles or floor puzzles are also an easy way to increase your child’s interest, and therefore their focus and concentration.
3) Games and toys for focus that encourage your child to listen
Most kids enjoy playing “Simon says”, but did you know that it is also one of the best games to strengthen their focus and concentration? “Simon says” is a great game for kids because it forces them to pay attention to what is said, remember, and act.
Science says that this game can do wonders for your child’s focus and concentration. It is also great for developing their self-regulation skills.
Any game that can help your child learn to store and retrieve information is great for strengthening their focus and concentration skills.
Another great game that your kid will love – and which is also good for their concentration – is the “Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders” game.
Instead of the traditional “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes song”, kids are expected to do the opposite of what they are told (for example touch their toes when they are asked to touch their head).
Research studies have shown that this is an easy and effective tool to help increase their focus and concentration.
4) Games and toys for focus that help your child use their imagination
Games that encourage make-believe play are good for your child’s concentration. Research says that this type of play is also important for your child’s cognitive development.
According to Charles Schaefer, the play therapy expert, role-playing helps children to learn to think ahead and reflect on appropriate responses.
Rory’s Story Cubes are great toy for focus that can help your child strengthen their concentration power and work on their imagination and creativity. In this game, your child is expected to use the pictures on the dice to come up with a story of their own.
The “Finish the story game” is also an easy way to help your child work on their concentration because they are forced to focus.
One person starts off the story and the other players contribute one sentence to the story in turns in order to create one complete story as a team. This game forces your child to pay attention to the sentences that have been said by the other players.
5) Toys for focus that encourage your child to…concentrate
Some games are built around a child’s ability to concentrate. One such game is Jenga, a classic toy for focus in which your child is expected to pull out one block at a time without crashing the stack. Jenga is also a game your entire family can enjoy.
If your child is more of the sporty type, Pop and catch games should do the trick!
Toys and games are an easy and fun way to help your child work on their concentration. If you are using a specific resource for the first time, do not worry if they seem inattentive at first. The more they get accustomed to the game, the better their focus and concentration skills will become.
Also, remember that the more your child is interested in a particular toy for focus, the higher the chances that they will remain concentrated. Trying different games and toys is an easy way to determine what works best for them.
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