Reading stories: When adults read stories with expressive voices and vivid emotions, it stimulates a child's imagination. Parents can ask questions about the characters, encouraging children to predict what happens next, which helps them become active listeners. This simple habit gradually improves a child's concentration.

Encourage story building: A group of children sits in a circle, starting a story with one sentence. Each child takes a turn adding a new sentence, listening carefully to maintain the narrative flow. This activity helps children develop active listening, memory, and creative thinking skills.

Solving puzzles: Children completing simple puzzles or jigsaws helps train their thinking, observation skills, and encourages positive thought before action. The sense of accomplishment after finishing motivates children to continue focusing and tackling subsequent tasks.

Creating creative corners: Activities like coloring, drawing, and making simple collages encourage children to focus for specific periods. Engaging with colors fosters passion in children, offering them opportunities to express their imagination and creativity.

Outdoor play helps children relax and improve concentration. *AI-generated image*

Nature walks: A short walk in a garden or park can become an engaging observation game. Parents can encourage children to count the birds they see, notice the shapes of leaves, or find flowers of specific colors, thereby training their concentration and observation skills.

A child's concentration improves when they feel interested and emotionally connected to the activity. Encouragement, patience, and praise from adults play a vital role. Since each child develops at a different pace, parents should create gentle and enjoyable learning experiences for them.

Freeze and move games: Games like "dance to the music - freeze when the music stops" or "statue game" require children to move on command and stop precisely when the signal changes. Through these, children train their behavioral control, reaction to commands, and enhance their attention span.

Beyond these activities, a supportive environment for concentration is also crucial. Distractions like television noise should be limited, and play spaces should be well-lit, comfortable, and include short breaks. Adults should praise a child's effort and persistence, not solely focusing on results.

A child's concentration is not fixed; it improves over time with practice, perseverance, and patience. Engaging in play activities is an effective way for children to enhance their attention, supporting their long-term learning process.

Le Nguyen (According to Times of India)