Raising boys can be demanding and exhausting for most parents. I am a mother of two young boys (6 and 12 years old), who are physically active and often wrestling with each other at home.  The older boy has no academic challenges but is forgetful. I just thought this is a common developmental issue that every child faces and my son of having an attention issue did not cross my mind.

I chanced upon Neeuro’s QuickScreen and was drawn by its convenience without having to consult a clinician. It takes less than 5 minutes to complete the 18 questions to understand my son’s attention ability. My anxiety grew while answering the questions. Oh no, my son has most of the symptoms! The QuickScreen report indicated that he has a combination of mild inattentive and hyperactivity/impulsivity tendencies. Though the severity is low, and while he still exhibits strong learning ability but is careless, I am concerned on how my son will be able to cope with the mounting pressure as he advances in his studies.

Because of this incidental self-discovery, I started to research on learning and attention issues:

1. Even if the child is doing well in schoolwork, parents have to be mindful of their attention abilities. Attention is the first step in the learning process. Building this strong foundation in the child is key to their learning capabilities as the difficulty level of their academic studies increase. Better grades boost the child’s enthusiasm in studies.
2. Attention impacts a child’s mental state. Strengthen your child’s mental well-being with the various tips such as having relaxation time in their daily routine, getting sufficient sleep and rest.
3. Guide the child in their self-discovery, respect the child’s desires and interests so as to value one’s own growth and development. Children’s motivation to be diligent and focused on a particular activity is often related to their interests. Allowing the child to pursue his interests helps hone his attention since an engaged child will put his energies into learning and gaining achievements in this interest.

In conclusion, regardless of academic performance, a child’s attention ability should be well heeded in their growing years. It fuels better learning and raises the quality of life.

Take action now to uncover your child’s attention ability.

About the author:
Ling Xiao is Neeuro’s China Business Development Director. Outside of work, she is a mother of 2 young boys and an avid baker and cook.