Many children have trouble paying attention in class at some point in their academic career.

When this happens, especially with young students, it leaves parents wondering why their child can’t focus—and whether he or she could have a learning difficulty.

It’s important to know that not every student who has a hard time focusing in school has a learning difficulty such as ADD or ADHD.

In many cases, the concentration issues children have in school can be caused by a number of different reasons.

SIGNS OF A CONCENTRATION PROBLEM

Common signs that your child is having trouble concentrating in the classroom include:

• Low grades
• A dislike of school
• Disruptive behavior in class

These signs don’t automatically mean your child has a learning difficulty. Before you start looking for solutions, the first step is to identify the reasons your child is having trouble focusing in school.

Reasons yours child is having trouble trouble focusing in school 

• Lack of Practice 

Many young children have a hard time focusing in the classroom simply because they are in a new environment. This can also happen to older children after a break from school, such as March break or summer holidays.

• Isn’t being challenged enough 

For some children, what is being taught in class isn’t challenging enough. Children who are not challenged at a high enough level can lose interest in the material and stop paying attention altogether.

• Distracted by Stimuli 

The classroom can be a place full of distractions, from chatty classmates to a cluttered workstation. Some children have a harder time than others filtering out these distractions making paying attention to the teacher more challenging.

• Lack of Motivation 

In some cases, your child’s concentration problem may actually be a motivation problem. This lack of motivation can lead to a number issues in the classroom—including disinterest in the material.

• Mismatched Learning Style

Different students have different learning styles: some learn best by seeing, some by hearing, and others by doing. If your child’s teacher emphasizes a learning style that doesn’t match with how your child learns, this can result in a lack of focus and understanding.

• Not Getting Proper Sleep or Nutrition 

If your child is not getting the recommended 8-10 hours of sleep each night, he or she won’t have the energy needed to concentrate in class. Skipping breakfast is another big cause of lack of focus in class. If your child is heading to class hungry, he or she is more apt to be distracted than learning-ready.

• School Anxiety 

Anxiety about school or grades can be another deeper issue leading to lack of focus in the classroom. Students who are overwhelmed or stressed by a subject may simply check out, leading to dropping grades and confidence.