Why Kids Should Pay Attention in Class

A classroom of kids can be challenging to manage, especially if some of the youngsters have trouble paying attention. If children do not pay attention in class, several issues can arise that affect everyone negatively. With youngsters on-task and engaged in classroom activities, learning occurs and the entire class benefits.

  1. Disruptions Decrease Learning

    • If a child does not pay attention in class, disruptions might occur. These disruptions distract other students and make it difficult for them to pay attention to the teacher, too. Classroom disruptions also cause frustration for a teacher, making it difficult to concentrate and teach effectively. The effect of one child not paying attention in class can ripple out and affect the entire classroom, decreasing the amount of teaching and learning that occurs, warns the Regional Educational Laboratory at Education Northwest.

    Learning Respect

    • Effective classroom management hinges on basic social skills such as self-control and respect for others, according to a brochure published by Pearson Higher Education. Not paying attention in class signals a lack of respect for others due to the disruptions that interfere with other students learning. Not paying attention also can communicate disrespect to the teacher as an authority figure.

    Attention Skills

    • Kids might receive an overabundance of stimulation due to media exposure and could experience anxiety in response to a hectic life. As children develop a higher tolerance to stimulation, the ability to focus and build attention skills decreases, warns educational psychologist Jane M. Healy, writing for The Parents League of New York. Building attention skills can be a learned skill, if you teach and guide a child to develop these skills. A child might not learn how to pay attention effectively if she does not receive instruction on how to do so and if you do not provide quiet opportunities to build the skill.

    Positive Participation

    • A child who does not pay attention in class may lack motivation to participate in the lessons. Without this motivation to participate, children often lose focus and do not understand or perhaps forget why they need to pay attention and learn academic lessons. A teacher can renew this motivation by incorporating participation into classroom requirements to ensure that children stay engaged with lessons, according to the website of Concordia University, in Portland, Oregon.

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