My child can't focus for long. What can I do at home?

Young children can focus for much shorter stretches than adults, and how long they can keep at something depends on their age and on the activity. Among its milestones for 5-year-olds, the CDC lists paying attention for 5 to 10 minutes during activities such as story time or arts and crafts. At home, the things you can work on are everyday ones: enough sleep for their age, breakfast every day, screen limits and screen-free homework, an hour or more of active play, and a quiet place to work. If you are worried, talk to the teacher and your child's doctor.

How long should a child be able to focus?

There is no single number for every age, and it changes with the activity. The CDC's milestone checklist for 5-year-olds includes "pays attention for 5 to 10 minutes during activities", for example during story time or making arts and crafts, and notes that screen time does not count.

Why screen time doesn't count

A cartoon or a game on a tablet can hold a child's eyes for a long time, but that is not the same as staying with a book, a puzzle or homework. When you judge how long your child can focus, watch activities without a screen.

Interest matters

Children usually keep at something they enjoy longer than a task someone else has set. If your child can build blocks for half an hour but drifts off after a few minutes of writing practice, that is common.

Expectations at home

Asking a young child to sit and do homework for an hour without a break is a long time for them. Short blocks with a break in between often work better.

Why does my child find it hard to concentrate?

Often it is about everyday things: sleep, meals, screens and how much they move. Look at these first.

Not enough sleep

The CDC recommends the following amounts of sleep for children. Late nights with a phone or tablet, or a long trip to school, can easily cut an hour off.

Skipping breakfast

Skipping breakfast is common. In a 2023 CDC survey of US high school students, 72.6% had missed breakfast at least once in the past 7 days. That survey covered older students in the US, but busy mornings are when breakfast tends to get skipped at any age.

Screens and notifications

Constant notifications and videos that start one after another pull attention away.

Too little active play

The NHS advises children and young people aged 5 to 18 to aim for an average of at least 60 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity a day across the week, and to reduce time spent sitting or lying down. Many children sit for most of the day, at school and then again at home with homework and screens.

What should my child eat for breakfast before school?

The NHS Eatwell Guide, which applies to children from age 2, groups food as below. A breakfast that takes foods from several of these groups is a simple place to start.

Making breakfast happen on busy mornings

Breakfast does not have to be eaten at the table. A rice-and-egg box or a sandwich can be packed the night before, kept in the fridge and eaten in the car.

Getting vegetables in

Fruit and vegetables are one of the food groups in the table above. A few slices of cucumber or tomato in the rice box, or a piece of fruit such as a banana or an orange, are easy ways to bring that group into breakfast.

The rest of the day

For snacks, offer fruit or plain milk instead of sweets and sugary drinks. There is no need to look for special foods; regular, varied meals are the place to start.

Beyond food, what can we set up at home?

Sleep, screens, play and the place where they work all make a difference.

Keep regular sleep times

The CDC suggests going to bed and getting up at the same time every day. Set a fixed bedtime and a calm routine, such as a bath, brushing teeth and a story.

Set screen limits and screen-free times

Pediatric guidelines suggest that children aged 2 to 5 have no more than 1 hour of screen time a day, and that children under 2 avoid screen time altogether. The CDC advises avoiding screens 1 to 2 hours before bed and not putting screens in the child's bedroom.

For more on children's tablet time, see Kids on tablets for hours: how do I look after their eyes?.

Make time for active play

The NHS advises children aged 5 to 18 to aim for an average of at least 60 minutes a day of moderate or vigorous activity across the week, and children aged 3 to 4 to spend at least 180 minutes a day on a variety of physical activities, including at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity. Running in the park, riding a bike, swimming or playing football after school all count.

A quiet place for homework

Give your child a table away from the TV, with phones and tablets out of reach. Break homework into short blocks with a short break to stretch or drink water in between, and sit nearby for the first few minutes to help them start.

For more on studying in short blocks and sleep, see Too stressed to sleep before exams? How can you relax?.

When should I talk to a teacher or doctor?

Every child develops at their own pace, and some need more support. The CDC advises talking to your child's doctor if:

• your child is not meeting one or more milestones for their age
• your child has lost skills they once had
• you have other concerns about how your child is developing

It also helps to talk to the teacher. Ask how your child is doing in class and with friends, and whether the teacher has noticed the same things you see at home. Bring these notes to the doctor. If you still have concerns after seeing the doctor, the CDC suggests asking for a referral to a specialist.