I could watch TV on our 13 fuzzy channels.
Or I could read.
And so I read, and read, and readhours and even whole days would pass with no interruptions.
I didnt have any choicebutto concentrate.
Nowadays children are trying to learn in a world full of distractions.
The frenetic pace of many cartoons disrupts kids ability to concentrate.
So that hour of screen time should be something likeSesame StreetorMr.
But parents can still set limitsDr.
The AAP suggests keeping some media-free zones in the house, like bedrooms.
So its not an a rule imposed by parents, but a conversation.
At the very least, encourage older kids to mute their notifications and alerts when theyre trying to concentrate.
Turn off the noise, says Dr. Hirsh-Pasek.
The bottom line is that only about 2% of us are supertaskers, says Hirsh-Pasek.
The rest of us have diminished capacitywe lose about 30% of our productivitywhen we venture to multitask.
(Heres a good breakdown of the costs of multitasking fromPsychology Today.)
Plan (and Re-plan)
Ill-considered impulsivity is the enemy of executive function.
Adults are impulsive too, says Hirsh-Pasek.
We rip through answering the emails just to get them off our desk.
This is the self-regulation part of executive function, and it has both social and academic implications.
For older kids, You want the ball on the playground?
Think for a moment about how you might join in.
Simple clapping or rhyming games build on memory and execution.
Youre building up the ability to ignore all the texts that are piling up.
Teens should ask themselves: Am I in charge of this gadget or is it in charge of me?
Just because someone texts you doesnt mean you should probably look at it immediately, Cameron says.
Be a Good Role Model
Put yourownphone away during dinner, says Hirsh-Pasek.
Pay full attention in conversations and meetings.
And for gods sake, dont text and drive.
Our job as parents is to take some of the noise out.
The room doesnt have to be pristine, but we have to help them clean up.
We need to give kids the tools they need to succeed in a world thats cluttered.
