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n an age of endless distractions, from blaring screens to constant notifications, holding steady attention has become an increasingly rare skill. Yet without focus, children struggle to finish homework, understand stories, or persist through challenges. Training them to “Stick with it for five minutes” builds the muscle of sustained concentration, a quality indispensable for success in academics, careers, and personal growth.

One morning, my son sat with a book open but kept glancing up at the TV flashing in the background. Rather than turning the TV off, I challenged him to focus for five uninterrupted minutes and then share one interesting fact he found. Setting a timer added a playful pressure. At the end, he proudly quoted a fact he’d read — and realized that even with distractions, focused effort yielded rewards. That simple success grew into longer spans of deep work over time.

Build focus by creating “Five-Minute Challenges” each week. Choose a task — reading, math drills, puzzle solving — and encourage your child to work without interruption until the timer buzzes. Gradually extend the intervals as they succeed. Tools like basic timers or apps like “Stay Sharp” can gamify the effort. With regular practice, they will build an attention span strong enough to thrive amidst modern chaos — an ability that sets them apart in a scattered world.

TIPS

• Ask “Can you stick with this for 5 minutes?”
• Build up focus like a muscle — with short reps
• Remove one distraction and praise the change
• Use timers or charts to track streaks
• Let them reflect on how focus helped them succeed

ACTIVITIES

• Focus Timer: Set a 5-minute timer for reading or drawing, increase slowly each week — 10 min
• Distraction Block: Turn off music/TV, see how much can be done quietly in a short burst — 10 min
• One-Task Challenge: Ask them to do one thing start to finish without interruption — 10 min