From the time they are toddling around, today’s kids are immersed in a digital world. From being entertained by Mom’s iPad to watching countless TV shows on networks designed just for them, they are constantly distracted. It’s hard to figure out how to help a child focus when they are used to distractions.
And they bring those very short, easily distracted attention spans to your ministry.
So…how can you engage the distracted generation and effectively communicate God’s Word to them? Here are 7 ways…
How To Help A Child Focus
1. Encourage dialogue.
- Ask open-ended questions and follow-up questions
- Listen to their responses
2. Build relationships.
The way to capture a child’s attention is through their heart.
- Show them you care
- Invest in them
3. Give them clear expectations.
- Tell them upfront when you want them to talk and when you want them to listen
4. Use hands-on, real-life examples.
- Teaching about faith being like a mustard seed? let them touch and feel a real mustard seed
5. Use cooperative learning.
- Give them projects and activities that require them to work together
6. Use peer-to-peer learning.
- Allow them to teach each other what you taught them
- Retention rate goes up to 90% when kids teach each other
7. Use different learning styles.
This allows all the kids to learn in a way that is comfortable to them.
If you’re looking for more ways to get kids to pay attention, here’s a list of 12 easy ways. Another great idea is to make sure your children’s ministry is really thriving. Try a kids’ focus group to help evaluate your ministry.
Having a child with focus issues can have its difficulties, but if you follow these tips you can help them grow in their attention span and focusing abilities, their maturity level, their self-esteem, and as a person overall.
Feel free to leave a comment below about any other tips you have or that other leaders might find useful when helping a child with focusing issues.
